How do you know if your boxer is in pain? After my boxer went through a surgery, my veterinarian asked me to monitor her very closely for signs of pain or discomfort. When I asked, “how will I know if she is in pain?” He replied, “she will act out of character.” My first thought was I know my girl, so that shouldn’t be too hard. While I monitored her closely, I realized it was hard to tell and remembered that dogs usually hide pain (because it is a sign of weakness).

So, I Googled “how to tell when a dog is in pain.” I came across very little valuable information. However, I did find a pdf from the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) that I felt was helpful.

The article indicated 9 areas with examples to monitor for pain:

1. Vocalization
2. Activity Level
3. Self-Protection
4. Daily Habits
5. Facial Expressions
6. Aggressiveness
7. Self-Mutilation
8. Grooming
9. Posture

After doing a little reading, and in combination with knowing my boxer, I realized I knew exactly what the veterinarian meant. Of course, like people – every boxer is unique and handles pain differently. For my girl, she was panting, pacing and/or standing still staring.

Did you find the telltale sign that your boxer was in pain? If so, what did they do? Email us at [email protected]