Is my arthritic dog faking pain? Can't afford vet, what to do?

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Hi, so ny dog has arthritis, and it rarely acts up but recently hes been acting like hes hurt but then a minute later he is completely fine. I read online that he could be faking it to get what he wants but I want to ask a expert, just to be safe. I dont have money to take him to the vet, so I tried looking for the next best thing. Please I need reassurance that it isn't serious. He also does it in the middle of the night while im eating. Thank you for your time. - Harmony. Pet's info: Dog | Siberian Husky | Male | neutered | 9 years old | 70 lbs

Jennifer Summerfield, DVM CPDT-KA · Accepted Answer

Hi there. Dogs generally do not have the capacity to "fake" being hurt or in pain in order to manipulate humans - if they're painful, it's because something is genuinely hurting them. It does sound like Thundurr needs to see a veterinarian, so if cost is a concern, I would suggest checking to see if there is a low-cost SPCA clinic in your area that could help. You could also apply online for Care Credit, which is a payment plan accepted by most vet clinics: www.carecredit.com Usually, if you let your veterinarian know that you have a limited budget, they will do their best to work within your means. Even a basic exam would allow you to get pain medication for your pup, which would be a lot better than nothing even if you aren't able to do x-rays or more advanced diagnostics. So I would strongly encourage you to take him in and see what can be done.

Is my arthritic dog faking pain? Can't afford vet, what to do?

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