Here at Rainbow Vet Hospital, our veterinarian in Burbank, CA specializes in pain management for dogs and cats alike. As a pet owner, seeing your pet in pain is something you never want to experience. And unfortunately, pets can’t always tell us when they’re in pain or experience discomfort. By being aware of different types of pain in pets and how to tell if your pet is in pain, you can make the right decisions to help your beloved pet find relief. And our skilled, compassionate veterinary team will be here every step of the way!

Understanding Types of Pain in Pets

There are many different types of pain in both pets and humans alike, with acute and chronic pain being among the most common. Specifically, acute pain refers to that experience as the body naturally heals from an injury. For example, you may experience acute pain after spraining your ankle as your affected muscles, ligaments, and tendons heal.

Chronic pain, on the other hand, refers to pain that continues long after the initial injury has appeared to have healed, or even in situations where there is no obvious injury present. These types of pain tend to be ongoing, and it can take some time to figure out the cause.

Other less common types of pain in pets include nociceptive pain, inflammatory pain, and maladaptive pain.

How Can You Tell if Your Pet is in Pain?

Perhaps the worst part about pain in pets is that we as pet owners cannot always tell when a pet is experiencing it. This is why it’s so important for pet owners to be on the lookout for common signs of pain and discomfort. Because all pets react differently to pain, there is no guaranteed set of symptoms for knowing your pet is in pain, but some signs to watch out for include:

  • howling, crying or being unusually vocal
  • lack of appetite
  • lethargy or reluctance to be active
  • uncharacteristic aggression
  • hiding or becoming withdrawn

If your pet shows any of these signs of if you get the idea that something just “isn’t right” with your pet’s behavior, it’s time to see a vet.

Pain Management for Dogs and Cats

The good news is that we offer a number of pain management options for dogs and cats alike. The first step will be to determine the source of your pet’s pain, or at the very least, the type of pain. This will help us make an informed decision regarding which management option is best for your pet. Some of the more common options we’ll utilize to help your pet find relief include:

  • NSAIDs (anti-inflammatories)
  • corticosteroids
  • opioids (used for severe pain)

Schedule Your Pet’s Appointment Today

If you suspect your pet is in pain, please contact our veterinary team to schedule an appointment as soon as possible. You can reach Rainbow Veterinary Hospital for more information by calling our office at (818) 846-1166 today.