Dog owners' perceptions and veterinary-related decisions pertaining to changes in their dog's behavior that could indicate pain.

Owners' interpretations of and subsequent actions (or inactions) to behaviors that might suggest pain carry great implications for companion animals' overall well-being. Following exposure to brief educational material about signs and symptoms of canine pain, owners in our study reported significant increases in stated concern related to their dog's change in behavior and intention to seek veterinary care. These findings suggest that even very brief pain-related educational material can have a positive impact on owners' perceptions of canine behavioral changes and increase the possibility that they will seek veterinary care.