Years ago belief was that animals did not experience pain like humans. Then belief became that pain was beneficial in that it would limit movement and prevent further injury or keep the pet “resting”. Recent years of research has shown how drastically wrong those beliefs were and has well established that animals and humans have similar “pain receptors”. Left untreated, the pain reduces the quality of life and delays recovery from surgery, injury, or illness.
Many animals will not show obvious signs of pain or sickness due to the ingrained “survival of the fittest” instinct. Many people do not realize the most common sign of pain is a change in behavior. “Old age” or “slowing down” are not diseases and are often used to brush off signs of pain in pets.
Did you know if pain medication is given BEFORE a surgery is performed your pet will hurt much less AFTER the surgery, require less anesthesia & post-operative pain medicine, and recover more quickly from the procedure performed?
Our goal is to provide the most effective medication and management strategy for each individual pet and family.
Common Signs of Pain:
| Stiffness |
Hesitation to Move |
| Decreased Activity |
Neck Weakness |
| Lagging behind on walks |
Trembling |
| Difficulty standing up |
Depressed Appetite |
| Pacing, Restlessness, Biting, |
Running with “Bunny Hops” |
| Slow to Sit or Lay Down |
Unusual Crying or Whining – or yelping when touched |
| Limping |
Hiding |
| Avoidance of Stairs |
Arched Back, Head Lowered or Tilted |
| Muscle Atrophy (loss) |
Panting (Increase in respiration) |