Animals feel pain just like we do but can’t always tell us when they hurt. So, it is up to pet parents to observe when their pet is in pain and get them to a veterinarian so we can assess them and find out what is wrong. For this reason, September is Animal Pain Awareness month to educate every pet parent on recognizing the signs of pain in their pet and how they can help them.
How Do You Know When Your Pet is in Pain?
Even though our pets can’t talk, there are signs you can look for that indicate your pet is experiencing some distress. Here are some common signs of a pet in pain:
- Decrease or loss of appetite
- Weight loss
- Being off by themselves — not joining the family
- Aggression
- Lameness (limping)
- Crying or whining
- Excessive licking or scratching
Then there are more specific signs of pain depending on if your pet is a dog or cat. For example,
Dogs:
- Tight or twitching muscles
- Shaking or trembling
- Arched back
- Holding their head below their shoulders
- Panting
Cats:
- Hiding
- Vocalization, e.g., frequent unpleasant or urgent sounding meowing, groaning, hissing, growling.
- Grooming less or increased grooming but to a particular area (potentially leading to bald patches and sore skin).
- Panting is not usual for a cat. If your cat is panting, it can indicate extreme fear, pain, or difficulty breathing.
- Displaying aggression when you touch them in some regions of their body.
Diagnostics
Our hospital provides a wide variety of in-house diagnostic testing with the most state of the art technology available. It is our goal to provide your pet with the highest level of care possible, and our diagnostic tools help us do that.
When Surgery is Required
We believe in utilizing the highest level of medical technology, and our surgeons are experienced and highly trained. We also realize that it can be stressful to have your pet undergo surgery. We want to assure you that your pet is in good hands, and that we will do everything to provide the best care possible. We will communicate with you about the things you need to know before, during, and after your pet’s surgery. It is our goal to make the entire process go smoothly, and to eliminate the stress and worry of surgical procedures.
Pain Management
When necessary, we administer pain medication for the pet to heal from whatever it is experiencing. A pet recovering from illness, injury, or surgery needs to be kept calm and comfortable so its body can heal quickly. Pain medication can relieve your pet’s pain so that your pet can rest.
Conclusion
No one wants to see their furry loved ones suffer. We will do everything we can to help them and show you what you can do to make your pet comfortable when they are sick, injured, or recovering from surgery. If you observe any of the above symptoms of pain, please contact us and schedule an appointment so we can assess the problem and get your pet on the road to feeling better!
Sincerely,
