Pain in Dogs and Cats
September is Animal Pain Awareness Month, so let’s all take a minute to become familiar with pain in cats and dogs.
What is pain?
Seems like a silly question; we all know what pain is, right? But the answer is actually pretty interesting. Nociception is the nerves sensing tissue damage and sending that information to the brain. Pain is the negative emotion associated with that information. This is important because in cases of chronic pain especially, distraction and enrichment can actually reduce pain levels and improve overall quality of life!
Acute vs Chronic pain:
Acute pain is sudden and short-term, often associated with injuries or surgeries. Most often, acute pain resolves when the body is given time to recover. Sometimes, though, it turns into chronic pain. Chronic pain is longer-lasting and often quite draining to the one experiencing it. I focus my clinical efforts on helping animals and their humans manage chronic pain.
Most common causes of chronic pain that I see in dogs and cats:
Arthritis
Intervertebral disc disease
Secondary muscle spasms
Back pain referred from internal organ disease (i.e. dysbiosis)
What are the signs that your pet may be in pain?
A general ‘slowing down’
Hesitating to jump onto higher surfaces such as the couch, bed, car etc
Changes to posture (i.e. arched back, sitting with back legs straight instead of bent, etc.)
Restlessness or circling before lying down
Increased vocalization (especially cats at night)
Becoming aggressive or cranky
Overgrooming
Not wanting to be touched or groomed
Panting when it’s not hot
Changes in appetite or sleep habits
Muscle loss
Changes in toileting (i.e. not making it outside or to the litter box)
What can you do?
The first step is having your pet seen by a veterinarian who can diagnose the location and cause of the pain. This is super important as treatment options and management strategies may vary depending on the underlying cause.
Treatment options may include:
Supplements targeted to the underlying condition
Appropriate nutritional support for the condition
Photobiomodulation therapy (cold laser)
Targeted Pulsed Electromagnetic Frequency (tPEMF) therapy
A home exercise plan to strengthen weak muscles
Massage
Acupuncture
Microbiome balancing
Prescription pain medications
Weight management
Environmental Modification
Dr. Dantzler
Dr. Dantzler is available for virtual consultation regarding the holistic management of pain in pets. You can email her directly at consultaholisticvet@gmail.com or visit her website at holisticvetadvice.com
