Most of the pets that I see in my clinics have a chronic pain condition. The types of these conditions are wide-ranging and include chronic musculoskeletal disorders such as osteoarthritis, as well as trauma, infection, nervous system disorders, dental problems, gastro-intestinal disease, and cancer.
Recognition of chronic pain is sometimes difficult and is generally under-recognised and under-treated in animals. Dogs and cats do not always cry out or limp and sometimes we need to rely on subtle changes in our pet’s behaviour to recognise that they could be in pain. People often think that behavioural changes are just part of the ‘normal’ ageing process and it is easy to over-look them.
Behavioural changes which may indicate pain in dogs include:
- Decreased exercise tolerance – tiring more quickly on walks
- Less enthusiasm for play
- Less interaction with owner, or more clingy
- Less welcoming to owner when return home
- Increased noise sensitivity
- Less tolerant of other dogs/children
- Changes in appetite
- Jumping/starting behaviour
- Excessive licking at an area of the body
- Panting, lip licking, yawning
- Restlessness
Cats are particularly good at hiding signs of pain. Behavioural changes are often more subtle and include:
- Less likely to climb or jump onto high surfaces
- Staying in one spot
- Altered body position when resting or sleeping
- Changes in grooming habits
- Changes in toileting habits
- Changes in food or water intake
- More irritable
- Less playing or hunting
- Withdrawal from owners
- Jumping/starting/attacking areas of body
The first hurdle is recognising – and accepting – that your pet could be in pain. This is often hard as no-one wants to think that their pet is in pain. However, once we can recognise chronic pain, we can start to think about ways we can deal with it. This may seem daunting but I can help you to tackle this step by step and in a minimally invasive way. Depending on the severity of the problem, non-drug interventions (including acupuncture) may be sufficient. Other situations may need painkiller medication. Even if your pet is already taking pain medication, there is usually so much more that can be done to help them! Combining a number of interventions (‘multi-modal management’) is the most effective way of controlling pain and this is the approach I take in managing my patients.
If you have noticed any of these changes in your pet and think they could benefit from our caring approach, then please contact us!
KS Veterinary Acupuncture 