Pain Management
Years ago, the belief was that animals did not experience pain as humans do. Following this, it was believed that pain was beneficial because it would limit movement and prevent further injury or keep the pet “resting”. Recent years of research have shown how drastically wrong those beliefs were. It is now well established that animals and humans have similar “pain receptors”. Left untreated, pain reduces quality of life and delays recovery from surgery, injury, or illness.
Many animals will not show obvious signs of pain or sickness due to the ingrained “survival of the fittest” instinct. Many people do not realize the most common sign of pain is change in behavior. “Old age” or “slowing down” are not diseases and are often used to brush off signs of pain in pets.
Did you know if pain medication is given BEFORE a surgery is performed your pet will hurt much less AFTER the surgery, require less anesthesia and post-operative pain medicine, and recover more quickly from the procedure performed?
Our goal at Buck Lake Animal Hospital is to provide the most effective medication and management strategy for each individual pet and family.
Common Signs of Pain:
- Stiffness
- Decreased Activity
- Lagging behind on walks
- Difficulty standing up
- Pacing, Restlessness, Biting
- Slow to Sit or Lay Down
- Limping
- Avoidance of Stairs
- Muscle Atrophy (loss)
- Hesitation to Move
- Neck Weakness
- Trembling
- Depressed Appetite
- Running with “Bunny Hops”
- Unusual Crying or Whining - or yelping when touched
- Hiding
- Arched Back, Head Lowered or Tilted
- Panting (Increase in respiration)