Pain Management
and Preventative Care
Administering multi-modal management and early intervention to treat painful conditions.
Pain Management
and Preventative Care
Both dogs and cats are similar to humans in that they experience pain, except they don’t have the ability to tell us what hurts, where it hurts, and how bad. Pain can be a result of recent surgery, accident, illness, arthritis, or extreme conditions such as cancer or Addison’s disease. There are two classifications of pain in animals, acute and chronic. Acute pain is sudden and obvious. Chronic pain occurs subtly over a period of time and can be disguised as a symptom of ‘getting older’ or ‘slowing down’ in your companion.
Multimodal arthritis management involves attacking and preventing pain using multiple pain pathways and using different approaches. With multimodal management, less medication can often be used. We use weight management, Adequan, nutritional supplements, and a variety of prescription medications as indicated for your patient. No one drug is the answer for most pets, but a combination can be explored in order to manage your pets arthritis most effectively. Many patients suffer in silence and cues for arthritis are often missed by owners. Signs of osteoarthritis (arthritis) may include:
Reduced activity or refusal to move
Loss of interest of decreased social interaction
Changes in behavior including aggression, anxiety, or submission
Decreased appetite, weight loss, or excessive licking (grooming)
Definitive diagnosis with physical exam and radiographs will help us determine the most effective treatments.
Identifying and
Assessing Pain
Both dogs and cats are similar to humans in that they experience pain, except they don’t have the ability to tell us what hurts, where it hurts, and how bad. Pain can be a result of recent surgery, accident, illness, arthritis, or extreme conditions such as cancer or Addison’s disease. There are two classifications of pain in animals, acute and chronic. Acute pain is sudden and obvious. Chronic pain occurs subtly over a period of time and can be disguised as a symptom of ‘getting older’ or ‘slowing down’ in your companion.
Multimodal arthritis management involves attacking and preventing pain using multiple pain pathways and using different approaches. With multimodal management, less medication can often be used. We use weight management, Adequan, nutritional supplements, and a variety of prescription medications as indicated for your patient. No one drug is the answer for most pets, but a combination can be explored in order to manage your pets arthritis most effectively. Many patients suffer in silence and cues for arthritis are often missed by owners. Signs of osteoarthritis (arthritis) may include:
Reduced activity or refusal to move
Loss of interest of decreased social interaction
Changes in behavior including aggression, anxiety, or submission
Decreased appetite, weight loss, or excessive licking (grooming)
Definitive diagnosis with physical exam and radiographs will help us determine the most effective treatments.
FACT
One indicator that your pet is in pain due to hip dysplasia is the abnormal disbursement of weight between the front and back legs. The front legs should be directly under the shoulders, however if your pet suffers from hip dysplasia then the front legs are shifted to under the chest to take the weight of the hind legs.
FACT
Felines are much more tolerant of pain and more difficult to evaluate. There are many different techniques that are used to assess the pain level in cats. One of the most common methods (used in combination with additional approaches) is to observe facial expressions including the positioning of the ears, the distance between the ear and mouth, and characterization of the area around the mouth.
FACT
There are a wide range of treatment options available which include not only pharmaceutical medication, but also acupuncture, laser therapy, conditioning, and massage. We believe in taking a holistic approach to pain management and there is no “one size fits all” methodology.
Treating Pain
Since our furry four-legged companions can exhibit a wide range of symptoms when it comes to pain, it is extremely important to have them properly evaluated. We take into account not only the physical signs that your pet is hurting, but also any behavioral changes that might lead to more serious issues. Conducting an overall assessment of your dog or cat’s health can indicate how much discomfort your pet is in and what treatment options are available to alleviate that pain. Anticipating and identifying your pet’s pain level early can help us tailor the treatment for specific life stages and allow us to create a custom plan that is unique to your pet’s individual needs.
Treating Pain
Since our furry four-legged companions can exhibit a wide range of symptoms when it comes to pain, it is extremely important to have them properly evaluated. We take into account not only the physical signs that your pet is hurting, but also any behavioral changes that might lead to more serious issues. Conducting an overall assessment of your dog or cat’s health can indicate how much discomfort your pet is in and what treatment options are available to alleviate that pain. Anticipating and identifying your pet’s pain level early can help us tailor the treatment for specific life stages and allow us to create a custom plan that is unique to your pet’s individual needs.
Contact Info
CLINIC HOURS
Monday through Friday
8:00 am – 6:00 pm
Saturday 9:00am – 2:00pm
Sunday – Closed
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