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Pain and your Pet |
PAIN RECOGNITION AND TREATMENT OPTIONS
At the Marathon Veterinary Hospital we pride ourselves in proper care and comfort of our patients. Following are some helpful hints on recognizing painful situations and responses to pain your pet may show. |
| PAINFUL DISEASES/SITUATIONS: Any form of inflammation is painful, in varying degrees: - HOD, Panosteitis, Arthritis, Fractures, Osteosarcoma - Severe otitis externa, otitis media and interna - Toothroot abscess, severe gingivitis, dental extractions - Corneal ulceration, glaucoma - Trauma: Bite wounds, abscesses, contusions - Hotspots, burns, insect bites - Bronchitis with much coughing/Tracheitis - Pancreatitis, Intestinal foreign body, GDV - Sepsis - Cardiac arrhythmia - Urinary tract infection/obstruction - Anal gland abscesses/fistulas - Postoperatively for most surgeries but the most minor mass removals on the skin |
RECOGNITION OF PAIN:
| Pets rarely vocalize when in chronic or gradual pain. Watch their body language for hints: |
| - squinting for pain in eyes or face - ears pulled back or hanging to the side - head tilted - panting at rest - restlessness - poorly or non- weight bearing on one or more limbs - decreased activity level or avoidance of certain activities - decrease or loss of appetite, drooling - body posture – hunched back may indicate back pain as in IVDDZ or abdominal pain as in pancreatitis, gastritis etc. - retention of urine or feces may be a sign of pain in bladder urethra or colon/rectum |
| In severe or acute pain you will see more dramatic changes: |
| - touch avoidance, sometime with whimpering or aggression when touched or palpated - screaming in pain typically seen in dogs on awakening from surgery, puppies trying to walk with fractures and in cats straining to urinate when partially or completely obstructed |
Apart from medications helpful in pain control,
there are several other options available for your pet.
OTHER METHODS OF PAIN CONTROL AND MANAGEMENT
| MASSAGE, ACUPRESSURE, ACUPUNCTURE: - In recovery after orthopedic surgeries to decrease pain in affected limb and relief on other limbs, back and neck compensating for reduced mobility - In the management of arthritis, lumbar pain, helps to decrease muscle tension and cramping - Decrease of internal pain and anxiety in cases of pancreatitis, gastroenteritis etc. |
VOM (Veterinary Orthopedic Manipulation) and CHIROPRACTIC |
| COMPRESSES, hot and cold: - Cold compresses are most effective with acute inflammation after surgery, over joints or swellings, apply in form of ice cubes in moist towel or cold pack in moist towel for 5-10 minutes several times a day. - Hot compresses are beneficial to increase circulation to an area of poor healing, or long standing swelling, especially if alternated hot – cold – hot at 10-5-10 minute intervals. - Warm water application over acute burns (not cold water) will decrease long-term pain, blistering and scarring. The water must be as warm as the patient will stand for applied for as long as possible. |
