Poorly Pet Pooch Do You Think they know we ARE trying to help

[in a mo]

We have a Rough Collie Girl who has been unwell for several days ,obviously we have had the usual visits to the dog doctor ,tablets medicine and injections I was wondering "Do you think that they realise that we are trying to help them" she has shown no interest in eating and has spent most of the time asleep thankfully she is now showing signs of recovery.Do you really think they know .
This question includes all pet

[daffy654]

I think they do. A cat I once had had been missing for a few days but she managed to drag herself home for help, sadly it was too late and she died within a couple of hours of us finding her in the garden.

[Kristal53]

yes absolutely they know! One of my horses was recently hobbling in the field -obviously lame on one foot. I gave a good examination and found some puss in his hoof where he had stood on a twig or something, causing a puncture wound. I cleaned out the wound and put medication into it and the look on his face was that of 'thank god!' Everyday for a week i had to clean out the wound and he stood very quiet to get it done. They appreciate when you alleviate their pain but I don't thnk they experience 'gratitude' as such - they associate feeling better with the person treting them (you) therefore trust you and feel safe that you will look after them. Unfortunately they don't understand an injection that hurts them does them good -thats why they are often wary of Vets!

[FredPuli43]

Sometimes they do. They do when it's obvious. Mine stay completely calm in pain when I attend to an injury or other physical hurt, however much they've been running or limping around with it. But they don't associate having a pill put down their throat with relieving anything. That said, I have one bitch with arthritis, which requires daily pills. She appears to have learned an association, over time, between the pill being administered and the relief of pain. It may be that the initial relief is quite quick, so her association is easy to make.

[jules77]

Glad she is feeling better. What was wrong with her?