Pain myths

For me I don't like the greyhound/sighthounds are dramatic thing. I do understand part of that (like the time Ivy screamed in a pub because something brushed past her 😳) but to hear it from a vet is not reassuring as it's perpetuating a myth that they can't be in pain unless they're making a big deal of it. When Ivy has been not quite right I felt a bit mad because OH wasn't seeing it nor the vet (although they did agree to pain meds trial and physio, the second time was because of her teeth). Ivy certainly wasn't being dramatic but was clearly uncomfortable as she improved with treatment both times.
 
SaddlePsych'D said:
For me I don't like the greyhound/sighthounds are dramatic thing. I do understand part of that (like the time Ivy screamed in a pub because something brushed past her 😳) but to hear it from a vet is not reassuring as it's perpetuating a myth that they can't be in pain unless they're making a big deal of it. When Ivy has been not quite right I felt a bit mad because OH wasn't seeing it nor the vet (although they did agree to pain meds trial and physio, the second time was because of her teeth). Ivy certainly wasn't being dramatic but was clearly uncomfortable as she improved with treatment both times.
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When mine are in proper pain they get quiet and withdrawn. Floydy did the greyhound scream of death the other day as I put on a coat he doesn't like with leg pieces. Cooper is even more dramatic, and will scream if its the wrong collar, he doesn't like the waterproof one with the clicky clasp as 2yrs ago I nipped his skin in the clasp. He will never forget abuse of that magnitude. And he DESPISES the very talented osteo I use. He spent floyds whole session shouting pick me, then when the osteo touched him, screamed blue murder and threatened to bite him. It was the wrong sort of touching apparently 😂Once he got over himself and let the osteo examine him, totally fine, no sore spots or even tension. Thank god or he'd have screamed the place down if he needed treatment!

Thats emotional pain. Sighthounds feel things very deeply! Yet when Floyds back and neck were sore he never made a fuss at all, but he was off and I knew there was a serious issue. Vets were totally dismissive, the physio helped but was stumped and he just got quieter and quieter. I know he's nearly 100% again now as he's a frolicking clown radiating joy.
 
I do think there is some truth in it, but I associate it with their reaction to one off pain rather than just pain in general.

If my boy (and indeed my late girl) gets hurt on a walk, he will come to me holding his leg up like it's broken. I will feel it all over, tell him it's fine and then off he goes galloping about like nothing happened 😅

That said, I would be pretty alarmed if a vet brushed off any concerns I had on the basis that sighthounds are dramatic.
 
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