During the past month, we noted that Stanley, our chocolate lab, was not playing as much as the other dogs. He was a little cranky and was having trouble going up the stairs. The veterinarian diagnosed him with arthritis. Dogs suffer from pain like humans do. Unfortunately, pets cannot tell their owners when something is wrong or something hurts.
Alleviating pain can improve and enhance the quality of life for pets. The majority of pain in animals is chronic and difficult to detect. Dogs and cats rarely cry out or whine to alert their owner. This is why diseases like arthritis and cancer are challenging to detect early sometimes.
Be on the lookout for abnormal behaviors that signal pain such as the ones below:
🐾 Decreased activity
🐾 Decreased appetite
🐾 Difficulty standing after lying down
🐾 Extreme weight loss
🐾 Guarded behavior
🐾 Anxious expression
🐾 Unusual submissive behavior
🐾 Abnormal posture
🐾 Abnormal gait
🐾 Urinary and fecal accidents
🐾 Reluctance to jump
🐾 Trouble going up or down stairs or sitting
🐾 Decreased stamina
We do not want our beloved companion pets to be in pain, so early recognition and intervention is critical.
🐾 If you have a dog over 7 years old, your pup should be examined twice a year by a veterinarian. Having an exam every 6 months will ensure early detection of any issue that needs to be addressed.
🐾 Monitor your dog at home, record any behavior change and contact your veterinarian to schedule any needed follow-ups.
🐾 Be thoughtful and careful when your pet is in pain. Even the most loving pup can lash out when in pain.
🐾 Consider getting an orthopedic bed for your dog. A good quality orthopedic bed, can relieve achy joints, improve mobility and provide comfort.
🐾 Try a dog appeasing pheromone to alleviate anxiety, fear or stress.
🐾 A car ramp may be helpful to prevent injury when getting your dog in and out of the car.
🐾 A support sling can be used for comfort for senior dogs and a leash can be connected to give your pup a little bit of extra assistance on walks.
🐾 Ensure that your dog has water bowls at locations that he can get to easily.
Pain is not fun for anyone. There are many options to alleviate and prevent chronic pain issues. Talk to your veterinarian about your pet’s health, how you can improve the quality of life of your dog and actions you can take to alleviate chronic pain issues.
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