Humans can be very expressive about pain, but our pets are not always as capable of expressing pain. While some animals may experience acute pain from time to time, others may be dealing with chronic issues that pet owners aren’t even aware of.

Research shows that uncontrolled pain can lead to other health issues including impaired immune function, delayed wound healing, increased risk of sepsis, and cardiovascular stress. Acute pain can also indicate a chronic problem that is undiagnosed.

The International Veterinary Academy of Pain Management has dubbed September ‘Animal Pain Awareness Month’. The goal is to educate pet parents about their pet’s health when it comes to pain management. It is important to know and understand the signs of pain in our pets so that we can get them to a veterinarian as soon as possible for treatment.

We asked Dr. Gina Dinallo (BSc, DVM), who is part of our emergency and critical care team at BBVSH, to share her tips with us for recognizing animal pain.

How do I know if my pet is in pain?

When animals are in pain, they start to act differently, and cats and dogs respond differently to pain. It is important to be educated on the signs of pain, as well as how best to communicate them to ensure your pet gets the proper care. Always be on the lookout for common pain symptoms.

Dogs

You know how your dog normally behaves. If you start to notice unusual behavior, your pet could be in pain. The following behaviors are good indicators that your furry family member is experiencing pain.

• Less interaction with family, reluctance to do favorite activities
• Sleeping more
• Lameness/limping – remember ‘lameness is pain’.
• Disinterest in favorite activities
• “Grimacing” with ears back and eyes partially closed
• Hiding
• Loss of appetite
• Weakness
• Trouble going to the bathroom
• Vocalization when handled or touched

Cats

Cats exhibit many of the same symptoms as dogs when in pain, with a few additional signs:

• Hissing or biting when touched
• Tense body posture
• Flicking tail
• Decreased jumping

What might be causing pain symptoms in my pet?

There can be many reasons for pain in our pets; following are just a few common examples of what might be causing pain in your pet.

Acute pain vs chronic pain

Acute pain can be caused by a variety of factors. If your pet has recently had surgery, an infection, or a traumatic injury, your pet is probably experiencing acute pain. This type of pain usually starts abruptly, can be intense, and can lead to the development of chronic pain.

Chronic pain is most commonly associated with diseases that can be debilitating for cats and dogs. These diseases cause pain that needs to be constantly managed to keep your pet comfortable. In some cases, there may only be treatments for the painful symptoms, while in other cases, your vet may be able to treat the root cause of the pain.

Some pet parents attribute common behaviors of dogs with chronic pain to aging or “slowing down,” but these behaviors may signal something much worse than typical aging. Chronic pain isn’t normal, and a further investigation into the cause should be conducted.

Dental disease, or fractured teeth

Watch for the signs of dental disease. Are your dog or cat’s gums very red along the teeth instead of a bubble gum pink? Can you see more of the tooth (the roots) than you remember? Is there a lot of calculus–big grey-green plaques of material that can accumulate on the tooth surface? Does your pet have very bad breath? These are all signs of dental disease and should not be ignored, as they lead to further dental issues and more pain.

Many animals will continue to eat and drink through significant dental disease. They will try to shift food to the least painful part of their mouths to crunch and chew. Visible difficulty eating and prehending food, or truly stopping eating, is a late-stage sign.

Another reason for oral pain might be tooth pain caused by cracked or fractured teeth. Even severe enough wear–like the 10-year-old border collie that has been a tennis ball fanatic its whole life and now has teeth that are flat like a horse–can cause pain if the pulp is exposed.

Joint pain

Joint pain may be caused by a number of issues, and many of them may require a visit to a veterinary specialist. Arthritis is extremely common in pets. Tearing the ACL will lead to arthritis in the knee. Shoulder arthritis may affect dogs that have been particularly active throughout their lives. Large breed dogs are commonly affected by hip or elbow dysplasia. The kneecap popping out of place is a common issue in toy breed dogs.

Back pain

There are several common causes of neck and back pain in dogs, including degenerative disc diseases, injury, or tumors. Our surgical and orthopedic specialists at BBVSH can help diagnose and treat joint and back pain. Here are just some of the more common reasons for back pain in dogs.

Intervertebral Disc Disease (IVDD)

Intervertebral Disc Disease (IVDD) entails the degeneration of material between discs. The condition is often genetic in nature and tends to affect dogs with long backs and short legs. In both humans and dogs alike, the wearing away of the disc material that usually absorbs shocks and jolts between the vertebrae and spine is often extremely painful for the sufferer.

Other causes of neck and back pain

Neck and back pain in dogs can be more or less categorized into soft tissue injury (e.g., strained muscle), trauma, IVDD, inflammatory disease, and some forms of cancer. Pain in your pup’s neck and back could also be caused by a number of infectious diseases, including those spread by ticks and other dangerous parasites.

How do you treat pain in pets?

Once you and your veterinarian have identified that your pet is in pain and what the cause or source of the pain is, there are several ways to manage their pain.

Pain management after surgery or other procedures

If your pet is undergoing a surgical or dental procedure, do not be afraid to ask what pain management will be provided. Most of these procedures require some postoperative pain management, though the duration of treatment will vary with the procedure. Generally, your pet will receive pain-relief medications before, during, and after the surgery or a dental procedure.

Pain management medications

There are many types of drugs used to prevent and lessen pain. Your veterinarian will choose the appropriate drugs based on your pet’s specific needs. Some common veterinary pain-relief medications include:

Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs). These drugs interfere with the body’s production of inflammatory molecules that trigger pain and swelling. NSAIDs must be used with caution because there is the potential for liver, kidney, stomach, and/or intestinal problems. Some NSAIDs prolong blood-clotting time. NSAIDs are used to treat mild to moderate pain and discomfort.

Opioids. Used for more severe pain, this class of pain-relief medication includes morphine, codeine, fentanyl, buprenorphine, and hydromorphone. Opioids are used to treat severe surgical pain and may also be used in advanced cases of cancer or to control severe arthritis pain. Opioids have a place in selected cases to maintain a good quality of life for a dog experiencing chronic pain.

Other medication options. There are new applications of existing medications, such as gabapentin that offer additional pain relief options for dogs. Cortisone and synthetic cortisone-like drugs such as prednisone, prednisolone, methylprednisolone, and dexamethasone are potent anti-inflammatory medications and can have a very profound impact on treating pain.

Do NOT use human medicine. It is very important never to give human pain medication to your dog or cat as medications that are safe for people can be toxic to animals.

Other non-medication options that may help include:

• • Acupuncture
  • Massage and laser therapy
  • Physical therapy modalities including underwater treadmill sessions

Prevention

Prevention is worth an ounce of cure and taking the time to help prevent injury can help avoid having to manage pain later.

Minimize the development of joint pain – Keep pets in lean condition and avoid obesity as it strains joints. Be mindful of your pet’s activities and make sure they are appropriate for their age, weight and size.

Joint supplements and omega 3’s – various choices including Cosequin, Dasuquin, fish oil, and others are an option. Please seek the advice of your veterinarian before using these kinds of supplements.

See your veterinarian regularly for checkups.

Some last thoughts about pet pain

If you are concerned that your pet may be experiencing pain and want to learn about options to keep them from hurting, talk to your veterinarian. Care and management generally start with your primary veterinarian but may involve the aid of specialists.

At Boundary Bay Veterinary Specialty Hospital, our team can help. For example, our board-certified veterinary surgeons specialize in orthopedic conditions, and our animal rehabilitation specialists can make a huge difference in recovery from injury or management of chronic pain.

In some cases, you may have need of our emergency department and critical care team for the management of sudden worsening or severe pain.  We hope you never need an emergency vet, but if you do, we are open 24/7, walk-ins welcome. We are VECCS Level 1 certified and capable of handling even the most critical, life-threatening emergencies and trauma, with specialists on-site and on call to handle any surgical or medical issue. Find out more about when to visit the emergency room and how to contact us on our emergencies page.

At Boundary Bay, our goal is to prevent patient pain and suffering and maximize your pet’s quality of life with you.  Untreated pain is something that no pet should experience. By closely observing your pet for subtle signs of pain and working with your veterinarian, you can help your dog enjoy a pain-free life. We will be happy to help any time your pet is in need.