Don’t Let Your Pet Live with Pain

The International Veterinary Academy of Pain Management (IVAPM) has dedicated the month of September to helping inform pet owners about animal discomfort. As obvious as it seems, it is helpful to state pets experience pain just like we do. However, their symptoms might not be as obvious as ours, and can easily go unnoticed. Many animals also become quite adept at concealing their pain.

Certain types of pain and discomfort can be easy to identify, such as old age or “slowing down.” Other types are not as simple to spot. While old age can cause pain or discomfort for our furry family members, it is not a serious or life-threatening disease. Thus, it’s important for us to recognize when our pets are experiencing something beyond normal deterioration. So, how can we decipher this? In an article published by three doctors of veterinary medicine from the VCA animal hospital (Ryan Llera, Krista Williams, and Robin Downing), they list several different signs or symptoms that could potentially be linked with pain dogs experience (though many of these apply to cats as well).

These include:

Avoiding slippery floor surfaces
Difficulty getting up or slow to stand from a downward position
Difficulty easing into a sitting or lying position
Limping/lameness
Lying down while eating or drinking
Reluctance or inability to jump up onto furniture or into a car
Reluctance to go up or down stairs
Reluctance to raise their head to take a treat
Reluctance to sit when asked
Reluctance to turn their head to one side or the other
Sitting on one hip or the other with the rear legs off to one side
Standing to one side/weight shifting away from a painful limb
Standing or walking with their head held down or back arched up
Moving/walking while defecating or urinating
Urinary or fecal accidents
Night restlessness if they cannot get comfortable

In addition to identifying examples of ways our pets signal pain or discomfort, it is vital to understand the two main types of pain: acute and chronic. Acute pain is defined as something short-term that happened recently. For example, your dog steps on something weird in the yard and suddenly starts limping. Getting a torn nail, cut, or a pulled muscle would also be classified as acute pain. On the other hand, chronic pain is long-term, often lasting over 12 weeks. One common example would be osteoarthritis (AKA joint disease) which affects about 1 in 5 dogs (National Institutes of Health). Osteoarthritis typically develops as dogs age, and is common when they are 8 years old or older. This example shows how old age is not a disease in and of itself, but the accompanied pain can be a symptom of old age that needs to be addressed. Some suggested treatments for animal pain are massage therapy, medication, acupuncture, and canine physical rehabilitation. We offer several of these services at the Tulsa SPCA.

In short, because dogs and cats cannot talk, they look to us to advocate for them. When something goes wrong, it’s our duty to ensure they receive prompt, professional care starting with informing your veterinarian of any new symptoms or changes in behavior. To make a preventative care appointment at our clinic, click here. Don’We would be happy to address any concerns you have regarding your pet’s health and well-being!

**Please note we are not an emergency veterinary clinic, and there are instances where we could refer you to another clinic.

Kyle Paddock

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