One to One Personal Service, Friendly and Professional Dog Grooming City & Guilds Level 3 & OCN Diploma
29/01/2025
Exactly this 👏
I’ve barely scratched the surface of my Dynamic Dog course and it’s already sent my brain into complete overdrive.
Undiagnosed pain in dogs is something I am just so passionate about but the more I’ve researched and learnt, the more of a reality it’s becoming that we truly are in a canine welfare pandemic.
I can say in confidence that it’s near on impossible to find a conformationally sound dog anymore. Dietary issues are on the rise, skin conditions and of course, any form of pain in a dog will lead to more perceived behavioural problems. I say perceived because in my opinion these aren’t dogs misbehaving, these are dogs who are desperately trying to communicate with us. They are screaming for help - some louder than others.
Dogs are the ultimate pros when it comes to hiding pain. In fact for most, it won’t become apparent to us until the pain is unbearable for them.
I currently have the privilege of sharing my life with an aging dog. But with that privilege comes great heartache. To the untrained eye, he may look perfectly happy and healthy, but for me I can see the subtle signs that things are starting to decline. Yes he’s desperate to go for a walk when I pick up his lead, but very quickly I can see the scuffing of his back paws. His gait is gradually getting worse and I can see the muscle wastage in his hind legs. His fur has random areas that have parted or changed texture. Despite three different pain killers, he still has moments where he is licking the furniture or panting when on the sofa. He’s become a lot more clingy and confused.
Had I known 9 years ago what I know now, I would have gotten x-rays and started physio therapy with him right from the get go. I would have adapted his activities to make sure they were suitable for him and not just convenient for me. The thought that he may have been suffering with chronic pain for years breaks me; but I can’t beat myself up for what I didn’t know.
All I can do now is monitor the changes in his behaviour, regularly check in with the vet and frequently go through the quality of life assessment.
As humans, we need to do better. We need to start learning more about the animals we share our lives with. We need to understand the way they communicate and the way they should move.
My mission for this year is to make more people aware of pain and the impact it has on behaviour. I want to be a part of the much needed evolution of the grooming industry that takes into account the problems of poor conformation, diet and undiagnosed pain.
I don’t know how exactly, but I will do it. For Monty, for Max and for as many other dogs as I can 🐾
