Pain Management

Pet Pain Managment Support

Pain is a significant factor that affects the quality of life. Managing pain is key to your pet’s health and happiness.

Pain is the brain’s perception of an unwanted stimulus. Although it is hurtful, it plays an important role– it lets us know something is wrong. And because your pet cannot communicate when they are in pain, it is the pet parent’s responsibility to be aware of pain symptoms and seek veterinary help when something is wrong.

If you notice several of the following signs or one or two of these signs to an extreme degree, it may be time to seek help for your pet:

• Hiding from attention
• Uncharacteristic aggression
• Whining or crying
• Diarrhea
• Seeking more affection than usual
• Inability to defecate
• Changes to mobility
• Inability to get comfortable - restlessness
• Changes to eating patterns/loss of appetite
• Changes in sleeping patterns
• Body language that displays discomfort, such as flattened ears or tail between the legs

Of course, although pain is important, it is unwanted. In particular, chronic pain, or pain that is associated with a chronic condition such as cancer or arthritis, must be managed long-term to reduce suffering.

Some ways that we are able to manage pain in our patients include:

Medication for severe or chronic pain prescribed by our McKinney veterinarian is often the best and easiest option. Remember never to give your pet pain medication that has not been prescribed to them - this is highly dangerous, especially human medication, which could be deadly to them.

Supplements can help to manage pain in a more natural and holistic way. Ask your veterinarian if this could be an option for your pet.