Animal Pain Awareness Month
September is Animal Pain Awareness Month! This coincides with Pain Awareness Month in humans, to highlight how pain affects both humans and pets alike. As people, we often vocalize our and we expect our pets to do the same. But pets rarely vocalize when they have pain, especially chronic pain! This is due to a self-preservation instinct. However, there are plenty of signs that show our pets may be dealing with pain.
What are possible signs of pain in my dog or cat?
Decreased activity, play, or energy
Refusing or hesitating to go up or downstairs
Reluctance to jump on/off furniture (especially cats!)
Difficulty standing up from lying down
Stiffness after resting
Frequently shifting positions when lying down
New hesitance to walk on tile or hardwood surfaces
Decreased appetite (from mouth pain or other pain)
Over-grooming, licking, or chewing the same area on the body
Limping or uneven gait when walking or running
Behavioral changes (such as less sociable/friendly, hiding more, aggression, becoming unusually clingy)
Having accidents in the house or eliminating outside of the litter box
How can I manage my pet’s pain?
There are many ways to approach pain management in dogs and cats. This is based on severity of pain, acute vs chronic injuries, and other health issues your pet may have. Multimodal pain management using pain medication, acupuncture, traditional Chinese herbals medications, manual treatment therapies such as Tui-na (traditional Chinese therapeutic massage), and weight management and diet is the most effective way to treat pain.
