Pain Management
One of our goals at Acadiana Veterinary Clinic is to provide an effective medication and pain management strategy for pets that have pain issues. Left untreated, pain reduces quality of life and can delay recovery from surgery, injury, or illness.
Pain is categorized in two areas as a rule: acute and chronic. Acute pain is pain that is new, usually due to trauma, surgery, or sudden illness. Patients suffering from acute pain are typically given a treatment plan that includes a higher dose of painkillers but only for a short time. Chronic pain is described as pain that is due to aging factors or lingering injuries. Arthritis, degenerative joint disease, diabetes, glaucoma, and even cancer are all contributing diseases to chronic pain. Chronic pain is generally treated with lower doses of painkillers and steroid medication on a longer dosage schedule. Some physical therapy and surgery also may be suggested to put your pet at ease.
At Acadiana Veterinary Clinic, as an alternative or in conjunction with typical methods of pain management, we offer acupuncture and laser therapy treatments. Acupuncture is a holistic treatment option that is used to stimulate healing or provide pain relief. It is a virtually painless procedure that involves the insertion of needles into specific points on the body to activate the animal’s immune system and cause the release of serotonin and endorphins, the body’s natural pain killers. Laser therapy is an innovative, painless, drug-free treatment that uses low level lasers to stimulate the natural healing capabilities of the body’s cells.
In addition to treating pets for chronic pain due to conditions such as arthritis or pain from injury, we focus on our surgical cases to ensure that they are as pain free as possible. If pain medication is given before a surgery is performed, your pet will hurt much less after the surgery, will require less anesthesia and post-operative pain medicine, and will recover more quickly from the procedure performed.
Many animals will not show obvious signs of pain or sickness. Pet owners do not realize that the most common sign of pain is change in behavior. If you notice your pet exhibiting any of the following symptoms, chances are that your pet is experiencing pain, and should be examined by a qualified veterinarian.
Common Signs of Pain:
- • Stiffness
- • Decreased Activity
- • Lagging behind on walks
- • Difficulty standing up
- • Pacing, Restlessness, Biting
- • Slow to Sit or Lay Down
- • Limping
- • Avoidance of Stairs
- • Muscle Atrophy (loss)
- • Hesitation to Move
- • Neck Weakness
- • Trembling
- • Depressed Appetite
- • Running with “Bunny Hops”
- • Unusual Crying or Whining - or yelping when touched
- • Hiding
- • Arched Back, Head Lowered or Tilted
- • Panting (Increase in respiration)