Pain Relief in Dogs is a Critical Part of Veterinary Medicine
Just like people, dogs can experience pain in many forms. Dogs are often very good at masking their pain but they can suffer none-the-less. In past times, people often mistook the stoic nature of dogs to mean that that didn't suffer pain in the same way that people did. This notion has been completely debunked. Dogs do feel pain and may even suffer more than people do.
Consider that people in pain have the cognitive understanding that pain may be temporary or that they can manage long-term pain with the understanding that they can seek a physician to relieve it. Dogs, unfortunately, have no way to understand pain. They don't know why they hurt, only that they hurt. They don't know that the hurt will every go away. They don't know that anything can relieve that pain. Put in this perspective, untreated pain in dogs is a pretty hopeless situation.
A veterinarian's oath reads:
Being admitted to the profession of veterinary medicine, I solemnly swear to use my scientific knowledge and skills for the benefit of society through the protection of animal health and welfare, the prevention and relief of animal suffering, the conservation of animal resources, the promotion of public health, and the advancement of medical knowledge.
I will practice my profession conscientiously, with dignity, and in keeping with the principles of veterinary medical ethics.
I accept as a lifelong obligation the continual improvement of my professional knowledge and competence.
Any veterinarian following this oath is ethically-bound to not only recognise pain in dogs but to actively work to treat it. Considering pain relief to be something that is optional is directly opposed to this oath.
How to tell if a dog is in pain
Dogs and other animals are very good at masking their pain. Many times signs of suffering can be very subtle. It is very important to keep alert to any of these signs because the sooner that pain is recognized, the sooner it can be relieved.
The American Animal Hospital Association put together a list of common symptoms of pain in dogs which we have added to. Many of these symptoms can be very subtle and subdued. For example, most dogs won't howl or yelp except when an injury first happens. Rather, they may groan slightly when trying to stand.
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Vocalizing
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Activity Level
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Self-Protection
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Daily Habits
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Facial Expression
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Aggressive (especially a previously friendly dog)
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Self-Mutilation
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Grooming
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Posture
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What can be done for a dog that is experiencing pain
The first FDA-approved pain reliever for dogs, Rimadyl, was introduced in 1997. Since that time, available options to relieve pain in dogs has
expanded exponentially. There are many options available that can be custom fit for a painful dogs needs.
At The Hometown Veterinarian, our doctors are ready to help dogs feel better by diagnosing the source of pain and prescribing a treatment protocol to relieve it.
The first step in relieving pain in a dog is going to be diagnosing the source of that pain. A veterinarian will take the time to evaluate your dog and reach a diagnosis.
Many causes of chronic pain may be permanently eliminated through surgey such as in the case of cranial cruciate disease. We are experienced in orthopedic surgery such as TPLO and other surgical treatments of painful conditions.
Sometimess surgery might not be an option to treat pain. Thankfully, there are many medications which can be very effective at controlling pain. Also, we regularly use holistic treatments such as laser therapy and acupuncture to control pain in dogs.
An especially exciting new development in the treatment of pain in dogs is the use of monoclonoal antibody therapy in the form of an injection called Librela. At The Hometown Veterinarian, we have be administering monoclonal antibody injections to dogs and have seen amazing results.