#6: Your dog is in pain
“Aw! That spot hurts :(“
Whining can sometimes be a sign of pain and discomfort.
Especially if they whine whenever you pet a certain area of their body.
You’ll notice it right away if their whine sounds painful.
It’s known that dogs tend to hide their pain as much as possible.
So when they whine, it’s the closest thing they can tell you about how they’re feeling.
If this behavior is new to you, the first thing you should do is to check their health.
It would also help if you’re aware of the symptoms of pain in dogs.
These are:
If you can’t figure out what’s causing their pain, take them to the vet for a physical exam.
Whining could also be an indication of chronic pain if they do it while being touched.
AKC says that there’s a difference between acute and chronic pain.
Acute pain is more obvious. You’ll easily notice the signs which include crying.
It’s mostly due to injury, surgery, or an illness.
While chronic pain is more subtle. They might be able to tolerate this long before you notice any symptoms.
It’s also more common in senior dogs. And the major cause of it is osteoarthritis.
Interesting fact: Researchers found that osteoarthritis occurs in 40% of dogs.
When chronic pain becomes severe, it could cause your pooch to become depressed.
So make sure to watch out for the following signs:
#4: Your dog wants something
“This doggo wants more of your caress.”
Your dog whining while being pet could mean they want something from you.
Which actually might be anything. They could be asking for food or treats.
They might want to play. Or they could be asking for more pets.
Maybe they’re also telling you where to exactly pet them.
Most pet parents are inclined to pet a dog at the top of their heads.
But it’s actually one body part they hate being touched.
So where should you pet your pooch? Remember that each dog has different preferences.
But there are specific areas that most of them like being touched.
These are the following:
Keep in mind though that you should wait for them to initiate contact.
And only pet them in places they like.
Illness:
Sickness — such as vomiting or experiencing diarrhea — could also be the cause of that dog whimpering.
“If you notice other symptoms in your dog like not wanting to eat, vomiting, diarrhea, coughing or lethargy, she may be whining because she’s sick. If this is the case, it’s time to visit your veterinarian so they can help determine the cause of their whimpering,” Dr. Dilmore says.