Pain Management

Pain Management

Pain can be a difficult symptom to treat, especially in animals. It can be hard to tell if your pet is in pain, but there are some clues such as whimpering, loss of appetite, and problems moving normally. There are two main types of pain that animals can experience: acute pain and chronic pain. Acute pain is encountered due to an injury or sudden illness, and may require strong pain medication and monitoring in the hospital. Usually these pets are off their medication after a short period of time. Some pets, especially older pets suffer from chronic pain. This may be due to degenerative joint disease or arthritis. Usually, as pet owners, we notice our pets having a hard time sitting or moving into a standing position. They may also limp or not tolerate activity the way they did in the past. In these cases, a low dose of daily pain medication may be necessary for your pet to function as normally as possible. Many times pain management requires a variety of treatment methods. These may include joint supplements, anti-inflammatory pain medication, and laser therapy. Laser therapy is a short non-invasive procedure where pulses of laser energy are focused on your pet's area of pain. This has been shown to decrease inflammation and pain for a period of time, from weeks to months. Ask our doctors at Animal Hospital of Clinton for the best methods of treating your pet's pain.