Most of us cringe at the very thought of an animal in pain. When that animal is your own beloved pet, you will be desperate to get him the relief he needs. Pain can occur for a variety of reasons, from acute injuries to degenerative conditions, and some pain problems can be chronic in nature. Fortunately, we understand pet pain here at Valley Brook Veterinary Hospital in Fair Lawn, NJ. Any veterinarian at our pet care center will be happy to evaluate your pet's situation and prescribe the appropriate pain management strategy.
Understanding and Recognizing Pain in Pets
As you probably know from your own experience, pain is the body's way of telling you that something is wrong. The same holds true for pets. A pet with a ruptured knee ligament, for instance, will be compelled by his pain to limp or avoid using the damaged leg. A pet with traumatic injuries or an emergency internal blockage may be in obvious pain. Other kinds of pain are both more subtle and more pervasive in nature. Joint problems such as osteoarthritis, hip dysplasia, or degenerative spinal diseases can progress slowly until your pet is all but disabled. Dental issues such as cracked teeth or abscesses can also bloom into sources of intense pain.
It's important to know the signs of pain in your pet, especially cats, who have an instinctive tendency to hide any signs of weakness. Signs that your pet may require pain management include:
- Avoiding companionship or being touched
- Grooming or feeding changes
- Increased aggression
- Inappropriate elimination
- Changes in stance or gait
- Trembling
- Difficulty in sitting up, lying down, or climbing stairs
We Can Control Your Pet's Pain
If your pet's pain is related to a correctable problem, our pet care practitioners can relieve it by fixing that problem once and for all. Examples of this kind of pain relief include: orthopedic surgery to repair cruciate ligaments in the knees, fracture repairs, FHO to resolve hip dysplasia, and extractions of hopelessly damaged or infected teeth.
Chronic pain conditions call for ongoing pain management strategies. Inflammatory conditions respond well to NSAIDs, steroid medications, anti-inflammatory diets, and, in the case of joint trouble, exercise or weight loss. We can also prescribe opioid drugs or surgery to reduce the most severe forms of pain.
Talk to Your Veterinarian in Fair Lawn, NJ
Your pet deserves a happy, comfortable life. Give him that life through effective pain management. Call (201) 796-5833 to schedule a consultation with your trusted veterinarians in Fair Lawn NJ!
