Your cat or dog still has primal instincts that they tune into when faced with threats to their health and safety. Their wild ancestors learned that showing pain made them easy targets for predators. Today’s pets are hardwired toward self-preservation even if it means they don’t get the help they need when they need it the most.
Knowing what pet pain looks like is a great step in the right direction. Since symptoms can be incredibly subtle, our veterinarian knows how to recognize what a pet is experiencing and take steps toward providing the care to reduce or reverse pet pain. We can often uncover pet pain during routine wellness exams, which gives us the opportunity to treat it.
A Closer Look
There are many possible explanations behind a pet’s symptoms, but often pain isn’t necessarily observable. Strategies to reduce pain are essential after a known illness, injury, surgical procedure, or dental work. But there are numerous conditions that cause pain, such as osteoarthritis or ligament disease, that benefit from treatment with pain medications.
When a pet enters recovery from surgery or dental procedures, they benefit from timely dosages of pain medication to help them heal. For animals with chronic pain caused by age-related conditions, there are nutritional supplements that support the joints.
Pet pain can be hard to pinpoint, but there are also obvious red flags. The following signs could clearly indicate that your pet needs a closer look at the possible reasons behind their pain:
- An unkempt appearance (lack of grooming)
- Pacing, restlessness, agitation
- Aggression, especially if you touch certain parts of the body
- Trembling
- Social withdrawal
- Reduced appetite
- Changes in bathroom habits
- Increased vocalization
- Lethargy or fatigue
- Rapid breathing or heart rate
Please don’t hesitate to call us if you notice any of the above, or simply suspect that your pet is suffering. The earlier they get help, the more impact we can have on their treatment and prognosis. A thorough examination and proper diagnosis can help us create an effective approach to pain management. Prescription pain relief medications, nutritional supplements, environmental accommodations, and possible physical exercises can help mitigate the effects of a pet's pain.
Influencing Their Health
Your pet doesn’t have to live with pain. With our approach to your pet’s overall health and wellness, we can address symptoms with medications picked up at our in-house pharmacy and incremental lifestyle adjustments.
We hope you’ll call us at (530) 533-7513 with any questions or concerns about managing your pet’s pain, or please request an appointment for your pet.