⚠️ Stay alert
Learn how to tell if your pet is in pain, how to provide basic first aid, and what a gruesome discovery was washed ashore on an island in Washington State.
👋 Hi, and welcome back to my free newsletter where I share hand-selected dog research, news, and tips every week.
In this week's edition, you’ll learn how to tell if your pet is in pain, how to provide basic first aid, and what a gruesome discovery was washed ashore on an island in Washington State.
Happy Easter! 🐰
📑 STUDY
Watching for pain
Researchers are urging dog owners to pay closer attention to subtle behavioural changes in their pets, as a new study has identified 17 key indicators of pain in dogs, many of which are frequently overlooked.
The study surveyed 647 participants, including 530 dog owners and 117 non-dog owners, to explore how well people can recognise pain-related behaviours.
Participants completed an online questionnaire assessing 17 specific signs and evaluating three real-world scenarios involving dogs with varying conditions.
The 17 behaviours highlighted by the research include: changes in personality, hesitant paw lifting, fluctuating mood, reduced play, turning the head or body away, freezing, licking surfaces, lip or nose licking, yawning, air sniffing, increased blinking, excessive grooming, increased scratching, coat changes, altered facial expression, reduced activity, and other subtle shifts such as withdrawal or decreased sociability.
While some behaviours, like personality changes, hesitant paw lifting, fluctuating mood, and reduced play, were commonly associated with pain, more subtle cues such as nose licking, yawning, and air sniffing were frequently overlooked. These behaviours are often misinterpreted as normal habits or stress-related actions rather than signs of discomfort.
Interestingly, the study found that owning a dog does not necessarily improve a person’s ability to detect these subtle signals.
Dog owners were slightly better at identifying obvious movement-related pain, such as limping or holding up a leg, but they performed no better than non-owners in recognising nuanced behavioural changes.
In some cases, non-dog owners were even more likely to link actions like turning away or freezing to pain, possibly because dog owners often interpret these behaviours as fear or stress rather than physical discomfort.
When participants were presented with real-life scenarios, results varied. In cases involving clear movement-related pain, most participants correctly identified pain as the cause, with dog owners performing slightly better.
However, scenarios featuring subtler signs, such as restlessness at night, increased attachment, shadowing family members, and shorter walks, proved far more challenging.
Only about half of the participants recognised pain as a likely explanation, with little difference between dog owners and non-owners.
Experience played a significant role: participants who had experienced pain themselves, or whose dogs had previously undergone painful conditions, were more likely to correctly identify subtle signs. This suggests that firsthand experience enhances sensitivity to behavioural indicators of discomfort.
The findings have important implications for animal welfare and public safety. Pain can make dogs more unpredictable and increase the risk of aggression. Missing early warning signs can turn interactions with even familiar dogs into potentially dangerous situations.
Researchers emphasise that early indicators of pain are often subtle and easy to dismiss. Behaviours such as increased grooming, blinking, or minor behavioural shifts may signal discomfort long before more obvious symptoms appear.
With dog ownership on the rise, the study highlights the urgent need for improved education on canine behaviour. Recognising both obvious and subtle signs of pain can lead to earlier intervention, better welfare, and safer interactions between dogs and humans.
💊 HEALTH
First aid
It’s Pet First Aid Awareness Month and although we all hope to never be in such a situation, accidents and emergencies can happen when you least expect them, whether you are at home, out on a walk, or traveling with your dog. Having a basic understanding of first aid can help you respond quickly and confidently.
While first aid is not a replacement for veterinary care, it can make a real difference in stabilizing your dog and preventing a situation from getting worse before you reach professional help.
The first and most important step is to stay calm. Dogs are very sensitive to human emotions, and if you panic, they are more likely to become stressed or frightened.
Take a moment to assess the situation and look for any immediate dangers in the environment, such as traffic, broken glass, or other animals. Approach your dog slowly and speak in a soft, reassuring voice. Even the gentlest dog may react defensively when in pain, so be cautious and avoid sudden movements.
If your dog is bleeding, apply steady pressure to the wound using a clean cloth, gauze, or bandage. For minor cuts and scrapes, this may be enough to stop the bleeding. For more serious wounds, continue applying firm pressure and seek veterinary care as soon as possible.
If the cloth becomes soaked with blood, do not remove it, as this can disrupt clotting. Instead, place another layer on top and keep the pressure consistent.
Choking is another situation that requires quick action. Signs may include pawing at the mouth, gagging, coughing, or difficulty breathing. If your dog is conscious and you can safely look inside their mouth, check for any visible objects.
Only try to remove something if it is clearly reachable and you can do so without pushing it further down the throat. If the object cannot be removed easily or your dog is struggling to breathe, it is important to get to a veterinarian immediately.
Heatstroke is a common but serious risk, especially during warmer months or after intense activity. Dogs do not cool down as efficiently as humans, so their body temperature can rise quickly.
Watch for signs such as heavy panting, drooling, vomiting, weakness, or confusion. If you suspect heatstroke, move your dog to a cooler area right away. Offer small amounts of water and begin cooling them with damp towels or by placing them near a fan. Avoid using ice-cold water, as this can cause shock. Even if your dog seems to recover, veterinary attention is still important.
There are also situations where your dog may have ingested something harmful, such as certain foods, plants, or household substances. Symptoms can vary widely and may include vomiting, diarrhea, drooling, or unusual behavior.
If you suspect poisoning, try to identify what your dog may have consumed and contact your veterinarian or an emergency clinic as soon as possible. Do not attempt to induce vomiting unless you are specifically instructed to do so by a professional.
Being prepared ahead of time can make emergencies much easier to handle. Keeping a well-stocked first aid kit for your dog is a simple but effective step. Useful items include gauze, bandages, antiseptic wipes, tweezers, a digital thermometer, and saline solution for flushing eyes or wounds.
It is also helpful to have a blanket or towel that can be used to keep your dog warm or to safely transport them if needed. Make sure you have the contact details of your regular veterinarian and the nearest emergency clinic easily accessible, either saved in your phone or written down in your kit.
Finally, trust your instincts as a pet owner. If something seems wrong or your dog is behaving unusually after an incident, it is always better to seek professional advice.
Acting quickly, staying calm, and having a basic understanding of first aid can help you protect your dog in stressful situations and give them the best possible chance of a safe recovery.
Taking the time to learn these skills is one of the most valuable things you can do for your dog. It not only prepares you for emergencies but also gives you peace of mind in your day-to-day life together.
There are many resources online you can turn to to learn more such as the free pet first aid app provided by the American Red Cross or the resources from the AVMA.
📰 NEWS
Washed ashore
An island in Washington state has become the focus of a disturbing mystery after 21 dead canines washed up along its shores in recent days, prompting officials to describe the situation as something that looks “like the start of a horror movie.” Authorities have yet to determine where the animals came from.
According to a statement from the Skagit County Sheriff’s Department, an investigation is underway into the deaths. The animals were discovered both along the shoreline and in the surrounding waters of Guemes Island, located 80 miles north of Seattle, beginning last Thursday.
By Wednesday, the remains had been transferred to a forensic veterinarian for necropsies and DNA analysis, officials said.
Most of the bodies were found near Kelly’s Point over the course of the week, with additional discoveries made on Thursday. Guemes Island Fire Chief Olivia Cole said that search efforts expanded as teams combed the area.
“The Skagit County Search team came out by boat and on foot to search for more, and they were able to find eight more,” said Cole, who also works as a dog groomer on the island. “We’re at a total of 21 now.”
Officials still do not know how the canines ended up in the water or where they originated.
Guemes Island, about 8 miles long, lies a short five-minute boat ride from Anacortes on the mainland. It was once nicknamed “Dog Island” because of the now-extinct Salish woolly dogs that historically lived there.
Cole said speculation is spreading quickly among residents. “This whole island is talking, and there are rumors, because we get big tankers that come through here, and we know there are breeders on other islands,” she said.
“So everybody is just having all kinds of thoughts going around, but we can’t confirm anything until the necropsy comes back,” she said.
She added that all of the animals appeared to have been skinned, and some were missing their front paws. Two of the carcasses also had “orange twine” tied around their necks.
“I personally did not see any gunshot wounds or markings that would suggest something like a dogfighting ring,” Cole said.
“It’s a creepy mystery out here,” Cole said. “That’s what I keep saying, it’s like the start of a horror movie, honestly.”
Alexie Gregory, 41, who has lived on Guemes Island for nine years, encountered several of the remains at Kelly’s Point on Tuesday and said the experience was unlike anything she had seen before.
“It was so eerie to see one and then, literally, five minutes of walking, we found another,” Gregory said. “I think we found a total of 10 or 11 that day, and by the end of it, I was numb. I was just in shock.”
Cole noted that the animals were similar in size, with some roughly the length of a woman’s size 9½ shoe and others slightly larger, comparable to a “fox size.”
She also observed that they appeared to belong to the same species and shared markings, including “a little bit of black and white on their back paws.”
“We don’t have final confirmation on them if they are coyotes, if they’re domestic, or something else,” she said.
The island’s small community of about 600 residents has been deeply unsettled by the discovery.
“This is what we’re talking about here,” Cole said. “Anywhere you go, down to the local store, we’re all talking about these carcasses that washed up and how we want to catch the person responsible.”