Pain Relief 101: A Pet Owner’s Guide to Pet Pain Medications
Like people, pets can experience pain for a variety of reasons, and uncontrolled pain can lead to an increased release of stress hormones and delayed healing in some cases. Additionally, pets who are experiencing a chronic pain ailment such as arthritis have an increased risk for behavior problems and a decreased quality of life. It may be tempting to reach for an over the counter (OTC) human medication to relieve your pet’s pain. However, many OTC medications are dangerous to pets, especially cats, because they metabolize most medications differently than people. Bring your pet to your family veterinarian or our Animal Emergency Care team if you suspect they are experiencing any pain. Your veterinarian will perform a thorough physical examination, and several blood tests may be recommended to determine which pain medications will be the safest and most effective against your pet’s pain. Pets with underlying medical conditions such as liver or kidney disease cannot take certain pain medications, so regular veterinary checkups are critical for proper pain management. We review common types of pain relief available for your pet.
