Did you know that pets experience pain just like we do? Unfortunately, many conditions that pets experience are painful, but their ability to mask that pain is tremendous. Whether it be after a surgery, due to trauma, or secondary to a chronic condition, it is our priority at Billings Animal Family Hospital to minimize any discomfort that your family pet may feel.
Most veterinary hospitals offer pain-relief for their patients, but we are happy to offer cutting-edge pet pain management techniques to provide all of our patients with the most effective pain control possible.
Good pet pain management is not only important from a comfort perspective, but is also an important part your pet’s healing. It is important for us to address pain in our pets to provide the best possible outcome for your pet’s condition.
Pain is experienced in all different contexts including after surgery, dental procedures, accidents, injuries, arthritis, or even chronic diseases.
Identifying Pain in Our Pets
It is simple for us to go take a pill if we have any aches or pains, but our pets rely on us, as owners, to identify and treat their pain.
Do you know how to tell if your pet is in pain? Some common signs include:
Abnormal vocalization (crying, whining, groaning)
Changes in normal habits (decreased appetite, less social, sleeps more, hiding)
Unusual aggression, especially around a specific area of the body
Decreased activity or reluctance to move
Change in overall demeanor
Change in posture
Pets often do not show obvious signs that they are in main, and some may have few or no indications. This does not mean that they do not need treatment, though. Early pain detection is important in getting your pet back to normal.
New Pet Pain Management Options at Billings AFH
Many people think of drugs when it comes to pet pain management, and it is no different for pets. Thankfully, a wide variety of pain-relief options exist for pets. We may choose to use different medications or combinations of medications depending on the level and intensity of pain.
While we certainly utilize some older, more traditional pain relievers such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs) as well as narcotic drugs such as morphine, we have several newer medications that we are using for some patients. These include:
Sustained-Release Buprenorphine – Buprenorphine is a narcotic drug related to morphine. It is used in both dogs and cats, but is often used as a more long-term pain relief option for cats. Traditionally a cat owner might be asked to dose his or her cat orally every 6-8 hours with buprenorphine. We are now able to administer a single injection in the hospital that will provide our feline patients with pain relief for 72 hours
Recuvyra – Recuvyra is another narcotic drug that contains fentanyl, a potent medication for more intense pain such as that after an orthopedic procedure or trauma. Canine patients are able to have this medication applied topically. One application lasts for up to 4 days and may be used in conjunction with other pain-relieving methods.
Alternative Therapies
Billings AFH also offers laser therapy, which uses light energy to act on cells in a target area. This light energy can decrease inflammation and provide some pain relief.
Acupuncture is also widely accepted as an alternative pain relief modality in pets and people, and we are excited to be offering acupuncture services to our patients in the near future. Please stay tuned for more information!
Let Us Help
Please let us know if you feel that your pet is in pain. Do not administer medications at home unless your vet has given you permission to do so. Some human medications can be harmful to pets, and medications prescribed for other pets or conditions may not be appropriate for your pet’s situation. Sometimes even appropriate medications can interfere with the veterinarian’s ability to diagnose and treat your pet. Pain relief for your pet is important to us, and we are happy to help in any way possible.
