How do I know if my pet is in pain?
Pets often hide pain, making it hard to detect. Signs of oral discomfort include sleeping more, reduced play, drooling, pawing at the face, dropping food, or preferring soft food.
Signs of oral pain in pets are very subtle; a dog or cat will almost never stop eating as a result of dental pain. The most common signs of pain are sleeping more and playing less. Other things that might indicate oral pain:
Dropping food
Pawing at the face
Drooling
Preference for soft food when they used to enjoy crunchy foods
If your pet is showing any of these signs, seek veterinary attention.
To determine when your pet needs help, use these Quality of Life scales: