Pain Management
Managing Pain for Pets
Pet Pain Management
Pain can be a useful thing to keep us out of danger and to make us rest when needed. For example burning yourself on a hot stove is a very handy reminder to move your hand away from a hot element. However pain becomes its own disease process when left untreated and can cause immense suffering and other physiological consequences. It is important we, as animal owners, learn to recognise pain and become educated in the different conditions that can cause pain in animals.
Pain Management
At Acupet pain treatment is our foremost concern. We use a number of different modalities such as acupuncture and laser to aid pain relief where their application suits. However, the mainstay to the management of moderate to severe pain will generally include some sort of pharmaceutical agent. Remember you can’t tinker with treating pain. If it is there it needs to be stopped ASAP and pharmaceutical agents are fantastic in doing this. Of course the use of pharmaceutical agents such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories always comes with possible side effects and to ensure your companion is able to tolerate any drug given blood tests will be recommended to check kidney and liver function. This is particularly crucial in older animals who have a reduced ability to break down drugs given.
In many instances of mild to moderate pain it may be that pharmaceutical agents are only required until the effects of acupuncture and/or laser accumulate to a degree that pharmaceuticals can be weaned off. But for many animals who suffer severe debilitating arthritis or spinal pain, using a number of different pain relieving techniques is essential. We call this multi-modal pain management.
Other more natural products that have a proven ability to help manage pain include nutraceuticals ( omega 3, glucosamine, chondroitin) and many herbal products ( e.g. turmeric). Where suitable there use will be discussed for your companion.
We will work with you to manage your companion’s pain. For many conditions, such as the pain from cancer and arthritis, pain is dynamic and ever changing. Ongoing communication about their pain levels and regular check ups will be required to keep their pain under control.
Acupuncture
Laser
Pharmaceutical agents
Natraceuticals and herbal products
Chronic Pain and Wind Up
Pain is processed in the brain. We feel pain because of this processing and only when conscious. That is why anaesthesia works. When unconscious we are not recognising pain. Pain is still there and we will feel the effects of our surgery as soon as we wake up though and that is where morphine can be our saviour!
Apart from the brain, pain is also extensively processed in the spinal cord. At this point pain signals can be dulled down or heightened before being passed on to the brain for recognition.
What happens in chronic pain, for example from arthritis, is that the spinal cord changes anatomically and physiologically to mean that pain signals are extra heightened. This condition is called Wind Up. The pain signal is literally “wound up” so that the animal becomes more sensitive to the pain that already exists, areas distant to the location of pain become painful and things that would not normally cause pain, such as touch and pressure, are registered as painful. Windup pain becomes super difficult to control. This is why pain, in all states, needs to be treated before windup and chronic pain can occur.
Pain is obviously a tremendously uncomfortable experience and leads to changes in emotions i.e. depression, aggression, anxiety. It also has some serious physiological consequences such as poor wound healing, muscle breakdown and weight loss and reduction in immunity. See below about the physiological effects of pain in animals.
Recognising Pain In Your Pet
Pain Symptoms in Dogs
Changes in behaviour are usually the most obvious sign to an owner that your dog is in pain. They may stop usual behaviours or adopt new ones.
- More subdued, depressed
- Or more anxious and attention seeking
- Reduced appetite or picky with food. Possibly reduced water intake
- Less active in general
- Reduced energy levels
- Change in gait pattern e.g stiffness, head bobbing, scuffing feet.
- Unable to do activities they could normally do e.g. jump in the car, climb stairs
- Change in body position they choose to sit/lie in. May be that they remain in this position to avoid moving and causing further pain.
- Less interactive with people/ occurrences going on around them
- Reduced play behaviour
- Unsettled or restless- may move around a lot trying to get comfortable.
- Change in posture- Hunched in abdominal/spinal pain; head held down with neck pain.
- Pacing behaviour- common with abdominal pain
- Becoming more vocal- whimpers, crying, groaning, barking, growling
- Licking, biting certain areas of the body.
- Reduced stretching.
- Does not shake any more when wet.
- Guarding particular areas of their body so you can not touch that area
- Flinches when touched
- Whimpers, cries, pulls away when an area of their body is touched.
- Droopy eyes, worried facial expression (arched eyebrows, darting eyes), ears back
- Weak tail wag, low tail carriage- maybe no longer wags his or her tail
- Reduced weight bearing on a limb(s), lameness
- Trembling, shaking.
- Reluctant to respond when beckoned
- Aggression possible
- Physiological changes: increase in repiratory rate, increase in heart rate
- Dull coat
Pain Symptoms in Cats
Changes in behaviour are usually the most obvious sign to an owner that your cat is in pain. They may stop usual behaviours or adopt new ones.
- Unsettled
- Reduced energy levels
- Less active i.e. no movement when not sleeping.
- Decreased or picky appetite, decreased water consumption
- Resents handling
- Less interested in surroundings
- Unusually quiet or alternatively a normally quiet cat becomes aggressive.
- More vocal: hissing, growling
- Seeking solitude, hiding in darkened areas around the house
- Stay curled or tucked up. Not resting in usual position.
- Body position changes: hunched in abdominal, spinal pain.
- Reduced stretching.
- Twitching along back when touched with spinal pain.
- Trembling, shaking
- Limping (lameness), stiff.
- Hair coat may become rough
- May intensively groom painful areas e.g abdomen, caudal areas of hindlimbs, tail base.
- May hold body rigid when touched
- Weak tail wag, low tail carriage
- Twitch tail when agitated
- Will growl, hiss or pull away if painful areas are touched
- Furrowed brow, ears pinned back, squinting of eyes
- Loss of brightness in eyes
- Increased purring when lying down- purring does not mean they are content.
- Reduced ability to jump up on high areas they usually are able too.
- Decreased height when jumping.
- Inappropriate elimination: Urination in areas outside of the litter box
- Aggression and howling in severe pain
- When pain becomes more severe they will become less responsive to surroundings and potentially more receptive to touch.
- Physiological changes in cats: increased respiratory rate, increased heart rate
Causes of Pain in Animals
There are the obvious causes of pain in animals such as from trauma, post-surgical pain, intervertebral disc disease and arthritis but there are many conditions that cause pain that owners are not aware of.
Remember animals show pain differently to humans and animal species differ in their response to pain. A Labrador can still be wagging its tail even with a deep laceration but it does not mean it is not in pain!
Cardiopulmonary:
congestive heart failure, pleuritic, thromboembolism ( saddle thrombus in cats), cerebral vascular accident (“stroke” in dogs, cats), pneumonia
Cancer pain: all cancers are painful
Cancers related to the viscera are strongly related to emotional changes in animals.
Skin:
otitis, severe itching, burns, chronic wounds, abcesses, cellulitis, urine scalding, clipper wounds, severe chin acne, nose inflammation/ulceration, immune mediated disease with blistering
Dental:
oral tumours, feline oral resorptive lesions ( cavities), tooth fractures, stomatitis, tooth abcess, mouth ulcers
Gastrointestinal: constipation, obstipation, obstruction, megacolon, anal sac impaction, haemorragic gastroenteritis (bloody diarrhoea), pancreatitis, gastric dilation volvulus (GDV), foreign bodies, gastritic, gastric ulcers.
Musculoskeletal/ neurological:
Muscular soreness, arthritis, degenerative joint disease, tendon or ligament injury, intervertebral disc disease, facet pain of spondylosis, fractures, dislocations, sciatica, meningitis, diabetic neuropathy.
Ocular:
corneal disease and ulcers, glaucoma, uveitis
Urogenital:
uroliths (bladder and kidney stones), feline lower urinary tract disease, interstitial cystitis, acute renal failure, enlarged kidneys, lower urinary tract infections, urinary obstruction, vaginitis, queening/whelping.
Surgical procedures:
pain associated post surgery. From mild pain associated with a cat castration, moderate pain post bitch spey to severe pain post fracture repair, cruciate surgery and spinal surgery, tail amputations.
Physiological Consequences of Pain
Cardiovascular system:
increased heart rate, blood pressure, risks of arrhythmia. The heart has to work harder and faster and this stress can have deleterious effects on an older animal.
Gastrointestinal system:
slowing of gastric transit time and increased intestinal secretions lead to vomiting, anorexia, risk of gastric ulceration, constipation.
Immune system: impaired.
This leads to increased risk of infection, enhances metastatic tumour spread, increased risk of tumour occurrence in animals in remission.
Metabolism:
increased metabolism and oxygen consumption. Breakdown of muscle, fat and glucose stores. AS a result delayed wound healing, weight loss and increased tissue breakdown. Weak old dogs become weaker!
Respiration:
increased respiratory rate and depth of breathing increases. Increased risk of pneumonia.
Urinary:
urine retention, water and sodium retention. Electrolyte imbalances.
“Kym at Acupet has been caring for my dog, Oakley, for almost two years using various methods to manage her pain and inflammation associated with arthritis and spondylosis, as naturally as possible. I can’t recommend Kym enough, she is knowledgeable, compassionate, patient (especially with my wiggly spaniel!) and very thorough in her approach, so I know Oakley is getting the best care possible.
Since starting therapy Oakley’s gait, range of motion, exercise tolerance as well as quality of life has improved significantly.
Oakley is able to continue living her best life, enjoying walks and adventures all thanks to Kym, I truly don’t know where we would be today without her!
Thank you so much for all your help Kym, Oakley and I are forever grateful 🐾🐾“
Jessica Odgers
“I am truly impressed with Kym’s exceptional expertise as a veterinarian and rehabilitation specialist, with a specific focus on pain management, enhancing the quality of life, and administering physiotherapy programs. Kym has consistently provided outstanding care for Maya, demonstrating a high level of professionalism, engagement, and a positive demeanor during each visit.
Maya, who experienced a traumatic incident resulting in significant pain, has made remarkable progress under Kym’s attentive care. It is evident that Kym’s dedication and skill have played a pivotal role in Maya’s journey toward regaining happiness and well-being.
I wholeheartedly recommend Kym for her expertise and compassionate approach, and I am grateful for the positive impact she has had on Maya’s recovery. Thank you, Kym, for your outstanding commitment to the well-being of Maya.”
Samantha Fernandes
“Kombi has improved in leaps and bounds literally! She got thrown a bad combination of hip dysplasia and then an immune disorder and was spiraling down hill fast. After just the first session of laser therapy with Kym we saw a huge improvement. Now a couple of sessions in and we can’t keep her still for long she has so much energy! Thank you so much Kym you have been a God send. Kombi loves her visits and we can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel.”
Claire Allmon
Is Your Pet In Pain?
We can help with a pain management approach tailored to your pet.