TL;DR
Dogs hide pain, so the signs are often changes in behavior rather than crying: moving less, stiffness, restlessness at night, panting at rest, licking one spot, a hunched back, hiding, following you more, or snapping when touched. Owners spot obvious pain well but miss the subtle kind: in a 2026 study of 530 dog owners, people readily rated limping-type signs as pain, yet were no better than non-owners at recognizing a dog in pain that was shadowing its family and restless at night. And never give your dog ibuprofen, naproxen or acetaminophen (paracetamol). A review of these painkillers in dogs warns that ibuprofen is not suitable for ongoing use because of the likelihood of stomach ulcers, and in 434 dogs poisoned by anti-inflammatory painkillers, ibuprofen caused more severe illness than the dog medicine carprofen. Your vet has dog-safe pain relief, and for long-term joint pain, daily support such as green-lipped mussel improved mobility and pain scores in controlled trials.
Signs your dog is in pain
| Type | Signs |
|---|---|
| Movement | Limping, stiffness, slow to get up, reluctant to jump, climb stairs or get in the car, shorter walks |
| Posture | Hunched back, head held low, tucked belly, shifting weight off a leg, "praying" position (front end down) |
| Breathing | Panting at rest, faster breathing |
| Behavior | Restless at night, pacing, hiding, clinginess, irritability, snapping when touched, less interest in play or food |
| Grooming | Licking, chewing or biting one area |
| Face | Squinting, flattened ears, a tense or worried expression |
| Sounds | Whining, yelping when touched or moving, groaning when lying down |
| Toilet | Accidents, straining, reluctance to squat |
The subtle signs owners miss
In the 2026 study of 530 dog owners and 117 non-owners:
- Both groups readily rated "change in personality", hesitant paw lifting, mood swings and reduced play as likely signs of pain.
- In a case of a dog with obvious movement-related pain, owners rated pain slightly higher than non-owners.
- In a case of a dog in pain that was following family members around and restless at night, owners were no better than people without dogs.
- Owners who had been through a painful event with a dog were better at recognizing possible pain signs.
Restlessness at night, shadowing you, and personality changes in an older dog are worth a pain check. See older dog panting.
A quick at-home check
- Watch your dog get up after a nap and climb a step.
- Watch it walk away from you on a flat surface: look for a head bob or a hip hitch.
- Run your hands gently over the spine, hips, shoulders and each leg. Note any flinch, turn of the head, lip lick or growl.
- Compare both sides of the body for muscle and heat.
- Write it down or film it for your vet.
Our founder Morty's pugs showed joint pain exactly this way: when their back legs were stiff they hardly wanted to move, sat down often on walks, and cried out when their hips or back legs were pressed a little firmly. See signs of arthritis in dogs.
Can I give my dog ibuprofen for pain?
No. Human painkillers are among the most common causes of poisoning in dogs.
| Medicine | Why it is dangerous for dogs |
|---|---|
| Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) | Stomach and gut ulcers, kidney damage, and at higher doses seizures and coma |
| Naproxen (Aleve) | Long-acting in dogs; ulcers and kidney damage |
| Acetaminophen / paracetamol (Tylenol) | Liver damage in dogs |
| Aspirin | Ulcers; can interfere with clotting and with prescribed dog medicines |
A review of ibuprofen, aspirin and acetaminophen poisoning in dogs and cats notes that ulcers and kidney damage from repeated "therapeutic" doses of ibuprofen and aspirin are unpredictable, and that ibuprofen is not recommended for prolonged treatment in dogs.
In a study of 434 dogs poisoned by ibuprofen, carprofen or naproxen:
- Ibuprofen poisoning caused more severe signs than carprofen.
- Delays in getting to the vet and not making the dog vomit early were linked to more severe illness.
- With prompt treatment, 99% survived.
If your dog has swallowed a human painkiller, call your vet or an animal poison helpline right away. Do not wait for signs.
Never combine painkillers
Do not give a dog's prescribed anti-inflammatory together with any other anti-inflammatory or with steroids. Long-term anti-inflammatories can irritate the gut lining even at prescribed doses, so watch for vomiting, poor appetite and black, tarry stool. See dog poop color chart.
What you can give a dog for pain
From your vet
- Dog-specific anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs) such as carprofen, meloxicam or grapiprant.
- Monthly arthritis injections. See arthritis shots for dogs.
- Other pain medicines that can be combined safely for chronic pain.
At home, every day, for joint pain
- Weight control: the single biggest thing you can change. See obesity in dogs.
- Gentle, regular exercise and non-slip floors.
- Green-lipped mussel. In a 2009 double-blind trial in 45 dogs with long-term joint pain, significantly more dogs improved on mussel powder than on placebo by the vet's mobility score, the owners' chronic pain index and the owners' pain score, and the authors suggested it may be especially useful for dogs that cannot take anti-inflammatory drugs. In a 2006 trial, the share of dogs improving rose from 41% on placebo to 91% after 56 days on green-lipped mussel.
Our New Zealand Green-Lipped Mussel Powder is 100% Perna canaliculus in a 1 g scoop stirred into food. Allow about 8 weeks to judge it, and skip it for dogs allergic to shellfish. See green-lipped mussel for dogs: the evidence.
When pain is an emergency
Go to a vet now for a dog that cannot stand, cries out continuously, has a swollen hard belly, has been hit by a car, suddenly drags its back legs, or has swallowed a human painkiller.
FAQ
How can I tell if my dog is in pain?
Look for moving less, stiffness, limping, panting at rest, restlessness at night, licking one spot, hiding, clinginess, irritability or yelping when touched.
Can I give my dog ibuprofen?
No. Ibuprofen causes stomach ulcers and kidney damage in dogs and is not recommended for ongoing use. Ask your vet for a dog-safe pain medicine.
Can I give my dog Tylenol (acetaminophen)?
Not without a vet's specific instructions. Acetaminophen can damage a dog's liver, and the safe range is narrow.
What can I give my dog for pain at home?
Nothing from your medicine cabinet. Call your vet. For long-term joint pain, weight control, gentle exercise and a daily supplement such as green-lipped mussel help alongside vet treatment.
Do dogs cry when they are in pain?
Some do, but many do not. Most dogs show pain through changes in movement, posture and behavior instead.
References
- Gardeweg SMA, Picard DE, Herwijnen IRV. The abilities in dog pain sign recognition as assessed by presenting seventeen listed dog behavioural signs and three case descriptions to dog owners and non-dog owners. PLOS ONE. 2026. PMID: 41920795
- Villar D, Buck WB, Gonzalez JM. Ibuprofen, aspirin and acetaminophen toxicosis and treatment in dogs and cats. Veterinary and Human Toxicology. 1998. PMID: 9610496
- Chalifoux NV, et al. Outcomes of 434 dogs with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug toxicosis treated with fluid therapy, lipid emulsion, or therapeutic plasma exchange. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine. 2023. PMID: 36453531
- Mabry K, Hill T, Tolbert MK. Prevalence of gastrointestinal lesions in dogs chronically treated with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine. 2021. PMID: 33534961
- Hielm-Björkman A, et al. Evaluating complementary therapies for canine osteoarthritis Part I: Green-lipped mussel (Perna canaliculus). Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 2009.
- Pollard B, et al. Clinical efficacy and tolerance of an extract of green-lipped mussel (Perna canaliculus) in dogs presumptively diagnosed with degenerative joint disease. New Zealand Veterinary Journal. 2006. PMID: 16751841
For individual health questions, your veterinarian remains the best partner.
