5 Common Painful Conditions in Pets

Like people, pets can experience pain from a variety of medical problems. However, most pets are skilled at masking signs of illness or discomfort, and it can be challenging for pet owners to know when their four-legged companions need help. September is Animal Pain Awareness Month and the perfect time to bring your pet in for a veterinary examination to determine if they are experiencing any pain. Recognizing pain signs in your pet may be easier for obvious injuries such as a broken leg. However, pets can suffer from many painful conditions that may not be immediately apparent. Our Animal Emergency Care team describes five common painful conditions in pets and ways to recognize the signs. 

Understanding 4 Types of Pain in Your Pet 

Pets, like people, thrive with a consistent daily routine, proper nutrition, regular exercise, and preventive medical care. The human-animal bond is a vital part of caring for a pet, and it can be heartbreaking if you suspect your pet is experiencing pain.  Recognizing signs of pain can be challenging because pets are skilled at hiding illness, injury, or other painful problems. Understanding your pet’s type of pain is the first step toward helping alleviate their discomfort. Our Animal Emergency Care team describes the four common pet pain types and how to recognize the signs. 

Tell Me Where It Hurts: 5 Signs Your Pet May Be in Pain

Our four-legged companions are great communicators. With just a look or a subtle drool, they are able to let us know exactly what they want especially when it is meal or snack time. However, for all of our pets’ amazing forms of communication, they cannot always tell us where and when they hurt. Many pets, especially cats, are skilled at masking signs of pain or discomfort which makes it challenging to know when they are suffering. Our Animal Emergency Care team has five common signs that could be a clue your pet is experiencing pain.

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. 

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