Dogs with noise sensitivity should be routinely assessed for pain by veterinarians.

Dogs with noise sensitivity should be routinely assessed for pain by veterrinariians.Dogs which show fear or anxiety when faced with loud or sudden noises should be routinely assessed for pain by veterinarians, according to new research. Researchers believe that pain, which could be undiagnosed, could be exacerbated when a noise makes the dogs tense up or 'start', putting extra stress on muscles or joints which are already inflamed leading to and associated with a loud or startling noise. Animal behavioural scientists from the UK and Brazil examined cases of dogs which had developed a sensitivity to either loudness, different pitches, or sudden noises, and found that those which also had associated musculoskeletal pain formed a greater sensitivity to noise. The study suggested that that fear or anxiety about noise could be association between a fear of noises and underlying pain.