Recognizing Hidden Pain in Pets During Busy Holiday Schedules

Most of us love the holidays, but they’re admittedly one of the busiest—if not the busiest—times of year. This means pet parents might unintentionally give less attention to subtle changes in our pets. 

At Animal Medical Hospital & Urgent Care, we want to make it easier for you to keep an eye on potential pet issues throughout the holiday season. Here are our top tips for recognizing signs of pain in pets during the holidays. If you notice any of these, reach out to your nearest Charlotte, NC urgent care vet—like our team here at Animal Medical Hospital & Urgent Care. 

3 Tips for Holiday Pet Wellness

1. Understand Why Holiday Schedules Mask the Pain 

For many of us, holidays are packed with travel, visits to and from family and friends, and all-around altered routines for our pets. Pets often adapt quietly amidst the chaos—they can sense that we’re more excited and stressed, and as a result, they put their best paw forward. 

Or, they might get excitable, anxious, and stressed—both of which pet parents often pass off as normal due to holiday stress. 

And then there’s the cold. Colder outdoor temperatures, frigid morning floors, and even allergens in holiday decorations can aggravate aches and pains from arthritis or dental issues. 

Dogs and cats alike tend to hide pain even during non-holiday times—so holidays can exacerbate this tendency.

2. Know the Subtle Signs of Pain in Pets

Here are warning signs that something might be wrong with your furry pal during the holiday season: 

• Changes in movement or posture. Dogs and cats may develop a limp, start refusing to jump or climb stairs, or seem unable to get up easily after a long winter’s nap.  
• Shifts in behavior. Any withdrawal, hiding, irritability, or reduced interest in playing or getting cuddled or petted is a warning sign of pain. So can increased neediness or vocalizations, such as whining, howling, meowing, or growling. 
• Reluctance to eat or drink. Is your pet not eating or drinking normally? They might be struggling with discomfort in the mouth from oral disease or from their gastrointestinal tract due to an underlying illness or issue. 
• Changes in grooming. A cat or dog in pain might stop all self-grooming or suffer from a worsened coat condition. Their coat might get matted or dull, or they might spend lots of time itching their skin. 

If you notice any of the above signs of pain in pets, make note of what happened and when it happened. This will be important when you bring your pet into the vet’s office. 

3. Act Quickly When You See Signs of Pain 

No matter how busy you get around the holidays, any signs of pain in your pet should be taken seriously. If the symptoms that something’s up last for more than a day or two, schedule care with an urgent care veterinarian. 

At Animal Medical Hospital & Urgent Care, we offer urgent holiday pet wellness checks to catch any issues before they get worse. 

Our urgent care services are available daily from 7:00 am to 6:00 pm throughout the holidays, so your pet can access care when they need it. 

Call us at (704) 334-4684 to let us know you’re coming in to see our experienced team, or to schedule an appointment. We look forward to helping your pet through their holiday woes!