Is your pet slowing down in its old age?  Is your furry companion getting slower?  Well, I am here to tell you that age is not a disease.  There is a good chance that your pet may be suffering from pain.  It is very common for painful pets to hide their pain and discomfort.  This is hardwired in their DNA and serves as a protective mechanism from the rest of the pack (dogs) or pride (cats).

It is much better for the overall health of your pet to start treating pain as soon as possible.  Too often owners wait until the pet’s issue becomes a problem for the owner and then seek help.  Some pets have been suffering for a long time, however now the owner has to pick the dog up to get it in the car or carry the cat up the steps or the pet cannot walk across the tile so they bring it in for help.  This is typically due to lack of education and understanding of pain.  Veterinarians have failed to teach owners how to properly recognize signs of pain in their pets.

Pain comes in many forms.  Acute pain can be due to surgery (TPLO for cruciate ligament) or a traumatic event (intervertebral disc rupture).  Chronic pain can come from arthritis, hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, collapsed disc space, cancer, or amputation.

Besides oral and injectable medications, there are many helpful modalities that can be used to alleviate your pet’s painful condition.  Some of the modalities are Physical Therapy, Acupuncture, Myofascial Trigger Point Therapy, Laser, Joint Mobilization, Vibration Plate, Shockwave Therapy, Pulsed Electro-Magnetic Therapy, Stem Cell Therapy, Underwater Treadmill and Joint Injections.

Some of the common signs of pain in dogs are as follows:

•             Decreased social interaction

•             Anxious expression

•             Submissive behavior

•             Refusal to move

•             Whimpering

•             Howling

•             Growling

•             Guarding behavior

•             Aggression, biting

•             Decreased appetite

•             Self-mutilation (chewing)

•             Changes in posture

Some of the common signs of pain in cats are as follows:

•             Reduced activity

•             Loss of appetite

•             Quiet/loss of curiosity

•             Defecating outside the litter box

•             Hiding

•             Hissing or spitting

•             Lack of agility/jumping

•             Excessive licking/grooming

•             Stiff posture/gait

•             Guarding behavior

•             Stops grooming/matted fur

•             Tail flicking

•             Weight loss

If you have any questions about your pet and how we can help manage their pain, please do not hesitate to contact us.  If your pet hurts, we can help!

Advanced Care Veterinary Services: 972-394-6422 or www.stoppetpain.com

Advanced Care Veterinary Services is the first and only veterinary facility dedicated solely to veterinary pain management, alternative therapies, rehabilitation and conditioning in North Texas.  Dr. Stramel is currently the only Certified Veterinary Pain Practitioner in the Dallas & Fort Worth Metroplex (www.ivapm.org). We can help your geriatric pet with our advanced skills and modalities in pain management to live pain free and reach new heights; we can help your agility or sporting dog reach their peak condition and performance; we can help your pet be pain free and re-gain proper mobility after having surgery.  By utilizing alternative therapies such as acupuncture, electro-acupuncture, vibration plate therapy, intramuscular dry needling and shock wave therapy combined with physical rehabilitation, underwater treadmill and the only indoor swimming pool for pets in North Texas, we can make your old pet feel young again!

Visit us at www.stoppetpain.com or https://www.facebook.com/AdvancedCareVeterinaryServices to see a small glimpse of how we can help your fury little friend!

Advance Care Veterinary Services, the first veterinary facility in Dallas and Fort Worth Metroplex to specialize in pain management, acupuncture, rehabilitation and conditioning.  Visit www.stoppetpain.comfor more details.

Studies have shown that, with hydrotherapy, animals recovering from surgery or injury heal up to 50 or 60 percent faster than with other therapeutic methods. How? Well …

• The buoyancy provided by water lessens the weight-bearing load on an animal’s limbs.
• This helps reduce pain and lets the animal start therapy earlier.
• Water applies pressure on an animal’s limbs, which helps decrease inflammation and improve circulation.
• By changing the water level, resistance and buoyancy can be changed to target individual muscle groups and injuries.
• Water temperature can be changed as well to help the animal relax and further alleviate pain.
• Muscle conditioning in water is not only an effective way of building up cardiovascular strength and endurance, but animals often find it fun.

Hydrotherapy is most often used to treat the following conditions animals suffer:

• arthritis
• gait disruption
• muscle stiffness
• muscle atrophy
• range-of-motion loss
• spinal injury
• paralysis
• hip dysplasia
• weight problems
• coordination disorders
• overall physical deterioration
• injuries
• pain

In addition, hydrotherapy is used …

• in post-operative rehabilitation
• in retraining to compensate for nerve damage or other deficiencies
• in general conditioning programs
• to help prevent injuries
• to provide intensive conditioning for sports animals
• to provide calming, healing hydro-massage