The Art of Pain Control In Your Pet

Anyone who loves their pet knows how difficult it is to watch them experience discomfort/hurt/suffering- whatever you want to call it. We are extremely fortunate to live in this age of great advancements in pain control. From minor to extreme we have much in our arsenal to safely extended good quality of life to our pets.

One area that clients worry most about is post-surgical recovery pain. The medications we choose often depend on the breed of the patient, the type of procedure, the health of the pet, and the temperament of the animal. After a spay or neuter some of our patients are bouncing around like they haven’t had anything done. This is where the common sense of the human comes into play. It is often in an animal’s nature to hide or disguise pain. You should still give the prescribed pain medication even if the pet does not appear to “need” it. Pain is always to be assumed after many surgical procedures. It was once thought that pain assisted healing by keeping the pet quiet. For pets that are too active we may need to prescribe a few days of sedatives to keep them quiet. However, just as too much activity is bad for healing, so is pain. Pain delays healing!

Pain control is an art. Any successful pain management program requires a true team effort. The medical professional accesses and prescribes; the pet owner reports back on the amount or lack of progress. It is also a layered approach. A class of medications called non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDS) such as Deramax or Previcox is excellent for providing pain control and decreasing inflammation while avoiding common gastrointestinal side effects such as vomiting or diarrhea. Pain can offer a pet a one-two punch. Many times we perceive pain after the pet has been experiencing it for long while. Uncontrolled pain is called wind-up pain. Once the pet is in pain it may take higher doses of medication to get that pain under control. Often we use medications that are less harsh on the body such as Amantadine, Tramadol, or Gabapentin in conjunction with an NSAID to allow us to keep a constant measure of control on pain and allow more sparring use of “bigger gun” medications.  

Not to be ignored are the holistic aspects to pain control. Supplements such as glucosamine/chondroitin and fish oil can be first line defense for dialing down pain causing inflammation. Chiropractic, acupuncture, physical therapy, and cold wave laser are excellent adjuncts to any pain management protocol. These work by allowing the body to heal itself and can greatly decrease the amount of medications needed to achieve the desired effect.

Pain management is a balancing act. The goal is to use the least amount of medication responsibly to achieve the desired result; the pet’s comfort. Just as important as your veterinarian’s skill in this area is your observation. It is based on your feedback that we know what is working, what area is deficient, and what needs tweaking. If you have concerns talk to your vet.  

*You should never adjust, increase, or discontinue any prescribed medication nor give any unprescribed medications without first discussing it with your veterinarian.