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Pain Management
Signs of Pain
Ostearthritis
Surgical Pain
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| | There are different types of pain medications available to meet the needs of different individuals based on type of pain, age, and health of the pet. | |
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| | Some signs of pain in cats and dogs are: - abnormal posture (hunched up, not resting in a normal position)
- abnormal gait (stiff or limping)
- abnormal movement (thrashing, restlessness or not moving when awake)
- vocalization (none, whining or crying constantly, intermittently or when touched)
- looking, licking or chewing at the painful area
- hypersensitive
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| | There are other behavioral characteristics associated with pain in cats and dogs, but could also be due to poor health: - depressed
- head hangs down
- not grooming
- picky eater
Some similar signs may be associated with apprehension or anxiety.
Animals exposed to pain for a long time begin to tolerate it , even though the same stimulus applied to a pain-free animal would cause a painful response. The response can be subtle and not very noticeable, so it can be difficult sometimes to assess if a pet is in pain. Therefore, for any surgical and many medical problems, pain management is highly recommended. | |
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| | Osteoarthritis is a common condition in dogs and can affect cats as well. Dogs show stiffness of gait, weight-bearing lameness, joint pain and can be slow to get around. Cats may show these signs as well, but may only act tired a lot or be less active. If your pet is exhibiting any of these signs or you’re not sure, we recommend a complete physical exam and possibly radiographs (x-rays) may be indicated to diagnose or rule out osteoarthritis.
Treatment is directed at the underlying cause and surgery may be necessary. Treatment also entails reducing pain and inflammation. This depends on the specific pet and the problem/causative factor. The pet may need to lose weight, control exercise, take medication and/or have surgery.
Our most commonly used medical therapy involves a combination approach involving non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and chondroprotectants. We do not recommend aspirin for pain, as it can lead to gastrointestinal irritation, inhibit platelets which are needed for blood clotting, and damage the kidneys. Do not use any over-the-counter pain medications for your pet, as they can cause serious and harmful side effects and can even be deadly to your pet. A pain control regimen tailored for your pet’s needs is highly recommended.
We recommend: - Deramaxx or Rimadyl (NSAIDs), which have been found to help decrease signs of osteoarthritis with fewer gastrointestinal side effects
- glucosamine hydrochloride/chondroitin sulfate/manganese (GCM), a nutraceutical and chondroprotectant which can improve joint health and help the pet improve after an injury
Feel free to ask about pain management. In helping pets to manage their pain, especially older pets with osteoarthritis, we have heard many people declare that their previously-suffering pet seems like a different animal.
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| | Pain management is a part of our anesthetic protocol. All surgical patients, including those undergoing spay or neuter procedures, receive a pain control injection. Our staff will discuss post-anesthesia pain management options with you. | |
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