Mild to Moderate Pain Severe or Chronic Pain

 Squinting eyes  Eyes closed

 Porphyrin around eyes/nose  Poor skin tone
 Piloerection/rough coat  Muscle wasting
 Increased aggression  Dehydration
 Decreased exploratory behavior  Weight loss
 Vocalization when prodded (may  Depressed
or may not present)  Unresponsive
 Licking/scratching/self-trauma  Sunken/distended
 Guarding (protecting painful area) abdomen
 Reluctance to move  Hypothermia
 Grinding of teeth (not attributed to  PICA (eating of non-food
pleasure) substances)
 Reduce appetite  Self-trauma
 Inappetence
 Change in fluid intake
 Hunched posture- Head
Post-procedural Pain tucked
 Head pressing/bumping
 Squinting of eyes
 Vocalization- May or may
 Decreased activity
not be present (do not
 Increased back arching
rely on this sign alone)
 Horizontal stretching
 Abnormal gait
 Abdominal Writhing
(e.g.,ataxia, limping)
 Abnormal gait
 Poor grooming
(e.g.,falling/teetering/staggering)
 Incontinence
 Guarding (protecting painful area)
 Labored breathing
 Twitching
 Curling up biting own
 Decreased grooming
feet (seen primarily with
 Porphyrin
ureteral/bladder stones)
 Piloerection of hair
 Avoidance of contact with
 Decreased food and water intake
human
 Aggression
 Huddled facing corner in
 Avoidance of contact with human
cage
 Tachycardia (faster than normal
 Whimper (similar to dog
heart rate)
whine but softer
 Tachypnia (faster than normal
sounding heard in acute,
breathing)
severe pain)
 PICA (eating of non-food
 Tachycardia (faster than
substances, note: may be seen
normal heart rate)
with the use of certain opioids)
 Tachypnia (faster than
normal breathing)