At Fairview Veterinary Hospital in Independence, our veterinarian often gets asked about how to tell if a pet is in pain and if so, what to do. Pet pain management is something that needs to be discussed with a trusted veterinarian. Dogs and cats also tend to hide their pain until it is too severe to do so, which makes it difficult to care for your pet if you do not know the signs to look for.
Why Pets Hide Pain
When your pet is in pain, it reverts to instinct. In the wild, an animal that is ill is a danger to the rest of the pack so they are often shunned. Pain and illness often signal a sure death for an animal in the wild. Your pet will revert to feeling hiding pain is a survival thing even though he is not in danger in the home environment. This may make it difficult to help your pet until the pain becomes nearly unbearable.
Signs Your Pet is in Pain
The way pets express their pain depends on their personalities and the nature of the pain. There are some signs you can look for, however, that are fairly common across the board. Look for some of the following signs that your pet may be in pain:
- Excessive panting
- Restlessness
- Repeatedly licking or gnawing at a particular spot
- Lack of appetite
- Hiding
- Clinging more than usual
- Sleeping more than normal
The obvious signs of pain such as crying, yelping, or limping are often exhibited later than the above ones. When it gets to that point, your pet has likely been in pain for some time.
Pet Pain Management
Our veterinarian has the knowledge and access to pet pain management medications that can have your pet feeling better quickly and with as few complications as possible. Treatment will vary depending on the type and severity of your pet’s condition. Whatever the root cause of your pet’s discomfort is, you can rely on our veterinarian to provide you with the most effective pet pain management possible.
Veterinarian in Independence
At Fairview Veterinary Hospital, we have years of experience providing residents of Independence with reliable veterinary care including pet pain management. For more information or to schedule an appointment with our veterinarian, call us at .
