Dogs who are anxious or frightened when confronted by loud or sudden noises should be routinely assessed for pain by veterinarians, a new study has found. Animal behavioral scientists examined cases of dogs that had developed a sensitivity to loudness, different pitches, or sudden sounds, and found that those also associated with musculoskeletal pain showed greater sensitivity to sound. The study suggested that that fear or concern about sound could be a link between fear of sounds and underlying pain.
The researchers believe that pain, which could go undiagnosed, can be exacerbated when a noise tenses or "startles" the dogs, putting additional stress on muscles or joints that are already inflamed, causing further pain. That pain is then associated with a loud or startling sound, leading to a sensitivity to sound and avoiding situations where they had previously had a bad experience – for example, a local park or a louder room in the house.
Researchers say veterinarians should ensure that all dogs with noise-related behavior problems have a thorough physical exam to see if pain could be a factor in their fear so that undiagnosed pain can be treated and the behavior problem addressed. . All dogs in pain that were treated showed an improvement in their behavior. This is the first study to investigate this phenomenon.
