Managing Pain to Improve Your Pet’s Quality of Life
Jefferson Animal Hospital pain protocols are based on compassion and caring. Our veterinarians and staff are dedicated to making sure your pet‘s treatments are the most humane and pain free as possible. We are constantly seeking techniques and procedures that promise less pain and faster recoveries.
Pain is often difficult to assess in animals. They are very good at hiding pain and illness as a survival mechanism. Can you tell if your pet is in pain?
- Stops grooming, develops a ‘funky’ hair coat
- Grumpy or aggressive
- Cowers, growls or snaps at the family
- Shallow, rapid breathing, panting (however, panting in cats is always an emergency)
- Difficulty going up and down stairs, not jumping on the furniture as usual
- Licking or excessively chewing spots on the body
- Restless, can’t get comfortable, (use soft padded beds)
- Doesn’t want to be picked up, cowers, runs, cries
- House training accidents because too painful to move, or can’t posture to go
- Muscle shaking of rear limbs or forelegs
What can you do? There are many wonderful medications to treat pets in pain but use extreme caution with “over the counter” medications like aspirin or Tylenol. Did you know Tylenol can be fatal to cats? And aspirin can cause bowel bleeding and stomach ulcers in dogs and is potentially toxic to kidneys. Ibuprofen is especially dangerous to use and also kidney toxic. Always ask a veterinary professional for advice about pain medications. Prescription medications are safer for your pet. Our veterinarian will probably take a blood sample to check for healthy liver and kidney function before starting your pet on any long term pain medications.
Ask our trained staff if you have more questions about your pet’s pain levels.
