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Yesterday morning, Bumble refused to eat. If you know Bumble, then you know that turning down chicken is roughly equivalent to a chain smoker saying “No, thanks, I really don’t want any nicotine today.” Something was really wrong.

The most troublesome of Bumble’s many issues are his deformed hip sockets, which throw his skeletal alignment way out of whack. In turn, as the rest of his body compensates for his weak hips, he can stress or strain other body parts. Like people with damaged joints or serious arthritis, some days he feels fine, and some days he hurts. The last few days I had begun to suspect that he was feeling some pain, but it’s hard to tell during the intermediate phase between normal-for-him and really, really painful.

Since other dog owners have often commented on how difficult it can be to tell if their pets are in pain, here are a few of the signs to look for.

1. Stiffness or body soreness: An animal in discomfort or pain may be slower to get up or lie down. He may collapse stiffly into his bed, when he normally is loose and limber. Most tellingly, he may walk slowly, or be reluctant to walk. Bumble (who admittedly has the shortest legs in canine history) avoids walking on grass or uneven ground when he hurts, because he has poor balance and falls down.
2. Drinking more/panting more: These can be signs of other conditions as well, but animals in pain tend to pant or breathe more rapidly, which in turn makes them drink more.
3. Crankiness: Just like people, when animals feel bad, they may be less tolerant and just want to be left alone.
4. Apathy: Your normally playful pet may lose interest in toys, won’t play with his animal buddies, or suddenly seems quieter than usual. Some pets may even refuse to eat.
5. Tremors or muscle spasms: While I was sitting in Dr. Romero’s office with Bumble, I noticed that his left front leg had a faint but definite tremor. It was caused by pain coming from his neck and shoulders, which were out of alignment. A pain pill and a visit to his chiropractor later, no more tremor and a much happier little dog.

If you see behavioral changes in your pet, don’t assume he’s just “getting older” or just doesn’t feel as playful as he used to. Watch him closely, and if you see these signs or other significant changes, go have a talk with your vet. Pets can’t ask for help when they hurt, so it’s up to us to pay attention.