5 Principles of Pain

The 5 Principles of Pain was coined by the Canine Massage Guild to help owners identify symptoms that may indicate a musculoskeletal condition that could be helped by clinical canine massage.

The signs of muscular pain listed below can be mistaken by some owners as signs of ageing, or “just something they do”. In reality, that muscular pain could be caused by anything, from normal daily activities to chronic arthritic conditions.

Here, you can find the 5 Principles of Pain, and a download that you can bring along or monitor your dog’s condition.

NB: Some of the symptoms on the 5 Principles of Pain may cross over with symptoms of other diseases that are not of musculoskeletal origin. Please always seek a diagnosis from your vet. As a clinical canine massage therapist, I am not a vet and do not diagnose. I fully respect and acknowledge the Veterinary Act 1966 and Exemptions Order 2015.

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1. Gait
  • Lameness or limping
  • Reduced range of movement
  • Stiff when moving or getting up from rest
  • Slowing down on walks
  • Abduction or adduction (throwing a leg)
  • Single tracking
  • Pacing
  • Hopping or skipping
  • Lack of reach or drive
  • Crabbing
  • Coat changes (waviness, flicking up, dry in an area)
  • Kyphosis (roached back) or Lordosis (swayback)
  • Twitching or shivery skin
  • Inexplicable tremors
  • Poor tail carriage (swimmer’s tail)
  • Neck, back or shoulder issues
  • Uneven nail wear
  • Hip, stifle or hock rotation
  • Down on their wrist
  • Struggling to get up or down from sofa, stairs or car
  • Not sleeping well
  • Weakness in back legs
  • General signs of ageing
  • Slowing down or struggling on walk
  • Difficulty rising from lying down
  • Slipping or unbalanced on flooring
  • Lying down to eat
  • Reluctance to be petted, groomed or examined
  • Disinterested in life or acting depressed
  • Self mutilation
  • Excessive licking
  • Snapping when handled or towel dried
  • Reactivity, avoidance or nervousness around other dogs
  • Anxiety
  • Noise sensitivity
  • Frequently rolling on back
  • Agility dogs: pole knocking, weave issues, contact issues, turning wider, measuring jumps
  • Gun dogs: early onset fatigue, retrieval issues
  • Canicross: early onset fatigue, reluctance to wear the harness, not wanting to pull
  • Obedience: change in work positions, weaker heelwork
  • Flyball: turning wide on the box, missing or avoiding jumps

Generally, any deviation from their normal, natural performance.