Vets reveal 17 subtle signs that indicate a dog has hurt themselves

"The researchers found that barely half of dog owners are able to identify symptoms such as nighttime restlessness and clinginess. These subtle signs in a dog's behaviour might provide early warning signs for dog aggression."

"When in pain, dogs may behave unpredictably and react to stimuli that they usually would not react to with aggression. Thus, the recognition of subtle behavioural signs might be of value to human health and wellbeing."

"The results revealed that people are best at recognising signs of pain that are related to movement, such as limping."

"Previous research has shown that humans are adept at interpreting dogs' facial expressions. For example, a study in 2022 found that slight changes, from wide eyes to a lolling tongue, can help to detect six different emotions in dogs."

Vets from Utrecht University identified 17 signs that indicate pain in dogs, including both obvious and subtle behaviors. Many dog owners struggle to recognize these signs, with only half able to identify symptoms like clinginess and nighttime restlessness. Subtle behaviors, such as yawning and nose licking, may signal pain and potential aggression. Previous research shows humans can interpret dogs' facial expressions, but understanding subtle behaviors remains challenging. A study involving 530 dog owners assessed their ability to recognize these signs through case studies and questionnaires.

Read at Mail Online