Does Your Pet Feel Pain?

Would you know if your pet was in pain? You would not be alone if you answered no to this question. Astonishingly, even as recently as 15 years ago, the veterinary profession did not address analgesia (pain control) routinely in our patients. It was assumed, obviously incorrectly, that animals do not feel pain like people do. Most of us have come to realize now that animals do experience pain, but are much less obvious about expressing it. Because animals cannot verbally express what they are feeling, indicators such as heart rate, blood pressure and respiratory rate are used to determine the level of discomfort. All of these parameters will be increased proportionally with the animal’s perceived pain level.

So what if you think your pet might be having pain at home? A cat who is painful will typically hide under the bed, in the backs of closets, behind the sofa. They will often have a decrease in appetite as well. An outdoor cat may not be interested in running out that door anymore. It is NOT likely that a cat will vocalize that pain. Only in very extreme conditions will a cat make any audible indicator of pain. If your cat does all of a sudden begin yowling or screaming, assume he or she is in immediate need of attention and call us right away. It is very important to note that cats cannot be given any over-the counter pain medications. Acetominophen (Tylenol) is particularly deadly to cats. There are some newer veterinary prescription antiinflammatories that can be used in cats, as well as some nutritional and herbal supplements that work well.

It’s a bit easier for dog owners to appreciate that their pet is uncomfortable. Because a dog is usually more mobile, you may see him or her limp. Any animal who is limping is most certainly in pain. A dog’s family may also notice the pet panting, even when not exerting himself. The dog may lick excessively at the affected area. A facial expression of anxiety may also be noted by the dog’s owner, and the dog is more likely to give a vocal clue than the cat is—whining, yelping, screaming when touched in the painful area. Again, a dog in pain may not be inclined to eat as well, though that depends a lot on the pet’s personality. There are many new prescription analgesics (pain medications) for dogs, as well as the nutritional and herbal supplements mentioned. It is important to note that pets who are receiving antiinflammatories for chronic pain should have labwork done regularly to make sure that these medications are not causing any harm to their kidneys or liver, in particular. Do not ever give a medication to your pet without checking first with a veterinary professional.

What about surgical pain? Whenever you choose a veterinarian, one of your questions to that person should be about their approach to pain. As amazing as it is that the profession as a whole did not worry about analgesia just a few years ago, there are still many veterinarians who do not adequately address this aspect of their patients’ care. In our end of the county, when we did a recent phone survey, we were told by some receptionists, in response to a query about what pain meds are given post-operatively to their patients—“oh, animals don’t really need pain medication like we do.” Any patient in our hospital who is undergoing a surgical procedure will be given pre- and post-operative injections of pain medications, and are usually sent home with pain medications as well. Can you imagine having a hysterectomy (which is what a spay is) or an amputation of digits (a declaw) without the benefit of pain control?

The bottom line is, animals can and do experience pain for lots of reasons, and it is your job as their companion and our job as your health care provider to determine the level of pain and the best approach to alleviating it.