Animal Pain Awareness

Recognizing the signs of pain in our animals is important for all pet owners. As a veterinarian, this is something I deal with every day. Pain control is a major part of many treatment protocols. Just like people, pets can experience pain, but unfortunately, they do not have the ability to voice their pain to us. So as pet owners there are certain behaviors we should watch out for.

Pain comes with different signs:

Acute Pain – occurs suddenly and is usually very noticeable to you. An example of acute pain would be a fracture or injury. With this type of pain your pet will cry out, limp, or not want to move.

Chronic Pain – this is a more subtle type of pain and is not as easily detected. An example of chronic pain would be arthritis or cancer related pain. Some signs to watch out for include decreased appetite, lethargy, slow to get up and difficulty moving around. 

If you believe your pet is experiencing some kind of pain, please schedule an appointment with your veterinarian. We can then discuss the different options that are available. During this appointment, the veterinarian will do a full physical exam, bloodwork, possible radiographs and/or other diagnostics. We will work with you to develop a treatment protocol specialized to your pet’s pain. Some of those options include medications (NSAIDS or Opioids), Surgery, Physical Therapy, Acupuncture, or Laser therapy.

Our pets should not have to live with pain. Proper diagnosis and treatment can help your animal family member live many long and healthy years by your side.

– Dr. Melanie Walters

Companion Animal Clinic has been serving Blacksburg, Virginia and surrounding Montgomery and Christiansburg communities since 1974. We are an AAHA accredited veterinary hospital and provide quality, professional care for dogs, cats, exotics, and small mammals. Learn more about our amazing team.

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