Careful observation can detect pain in pets
By Dr. Dennis Selig
Knight Ridder News Service
Nothing seems to embrace the philosophy and core values of veterinary medicine more than this prayer from Albert Schweitzer: "Hear our humble prayer, O God, for our friends the animals who are suffering ... and for those who deal with them we ask a heart of compassion and gentle hands and kindly words. Make ourselves to be true friends to animals and so to share the blessings of the Merciful."
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Yet, we might ask ourselves, "Do animals suffer? Do they feel pain like we humans do?"
We can keep our pets happy and comfortable with the aid of good veterinary care. An array of pain medications are available for pets.
We should agree that the answer is "yes" but surprisingly, up until 10 or 15 years ago, a veterinary student might have only a 30-minute lecture on identifying and treating pain in pets.
This lack of emphasis in a four-year curriculum has dramatically changed in the past few years; the topic now merits lengthy lectures at veterinary schools, detailed discussions in each veterinary journal and continuing education seminars devoted exclusively to this issue.
At a recent seminar, the speaker asked the veterinarians in the audience to remember the pain of one- or two days' duration we might have with a toothache or an earache. She then asked us to imagine this same pain for weeks or months, such as many of our pets experience with chronic ear or dental disease. Many of our pets not only experience pain but also live with chronic, long-term pain.
How to recognize animal pain
Veterinarians and pet owners would agree that one of the biggest problems we face in treating pain is that our pets can't speak, so they can't tell us when they are feeling pain.
Also, because animals often do not act as humans would in response to pain, it is difficult to judge how much pain they are feeling based upon their behavior.
The evidence is clear, however, that a pet receiving pain-relieving medications will recover quicker and more completely than those not offered those medications.
Experts do not definitely know how animals perceive pain. However, it is known that pets and their owners have the same pathways that transmit pain signals from its source to the brain. The challenge is being able to interpret their expression of pain.
Careful observation of your pet and knowledge of its normal activities can provide clues that may aid in detecting pain. For example, a normally friendly cat may hiss when approached by its owner or a young puppy may be less active than usual and may be content to lie quietly in a secluded place.
Other signs of pain might include whimpering or crying, loss of appetite, dilated pupils, heart rates in excess of 200 beats per minute, restlessness, shaking, lying down without sleeping, rapid breathing and nodding of the head.
What to do
If you think your pet is in pain, be sure to tell your veterinarian what changes in your companion's behavior has aroused your suspicions and ask for your pet doctor's recommendations. Sometimes, the best "medication" is TLC and social contact. Massages, ice or heat, and pressure bandages also can be soothing and beneficial.
Veterinarians now have a growing array of pain medications or analgesics available for pets. These include opioids, such as fentanyl patches or morphine-like medications, tranquilizers, local anesthetics and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).
NSAIDs include most of the familiar pain remedies we purchase for our own use, such as aspirin, acetaminophen and ibuprofen. However, many NSAIDs are extremely toxic to cats and some can cause gastric ulcers and blood abnormalities in dogs.
Veterinary-oriented NSAIDs, such as Rimadyl, Deramaxx, Zubrin, and Metacam, have received considerable positive recognition by dog owners; however, all of these medications can cause GI and possible liver problems and should be used with discretion.
Also, since these drugs are superior medications for arthritis and long-term use is necessary, your pet's doctor recommends that your pet receive routine blood tests to monitor for liver problems.
Dogs or cats living until 15-19 years of age were rare a few years ago. Now, with better medications, understanding of their diseases and their care, we see many of our pets living long, loving lives.
If you suspect that your pet might be in discomfort, ask your pet's doctor if she or he thinks that pain-relieving medications would be appropriate.
