Pain Management

Finding out your pet is in pain can be hard to hear. Learning all of your options in managing your pet’s pain can be overwhelming. We hope this information helps provide you information to keep your pet’s pain under control. There are many different options in managing pain and coming up with a treatment plan is individualized to your pet’s diagnosis. Below is a list of different options that may or may not suit your pet’s needs. The Doctor will help in choosing a treatment plan that is best suited to your pet.

As always, keeping your pet a healthy weight or in some cases, slightly underweight is always best. Your Doctor will discuss your pet’s weight with you to help determine where they are on the body condition scale (1-9)

Treatments Options:

1. • Acupuncture: Relaxation of muscles at the site of needle insertion and more distant locations is achieved with veterinary acupuncture treatment, creating both a local and generalized pain relieving effect. Acupuncture improves tissue blood flow, oxygenation and removal of metabolic wastes and toxins.
   • Cold Wave Laser Therapy: Laser treatment can be used in conjunction with or in place of medication to manage pain, inflammation, and wound healing
   • Stem Cell Therapy: By harvesting your pet’s own fatty tissue, a process can be performed to stimulate Stem Cells, which are early building block cells, that can target injured cells to replace or repair injured joints or cartilage. This one time treatment may provide beneficial effects for 1-2 years. The harvested tissue is stored and may be recalled for repeated treatments as necessary
   • Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP): PRP is similar to stem cell treatments using your pet’s own blood to process into platelet rich plasma that can be injected into affected joints, providing healing/repairing benefits for several months (3 months on average).
   • Physical Therapy/Massage
   • Underwater Treadmill Therapy: This therapy allows for minimal impact exercise for the arthritic or painful patient. This can be performed at select locations around the front range, including Canine Rehabilitation & Conditioning Group at 303-762-7946
   • Heating pad: offering a heating pad during cold temperatures, may improve blood flow, and reduce pain. Ensure your pet is able to move away  to prevent becoming too warm, or thermal burns
   • Orthopedic Bedding: this bedding allow helps minimize compression of muscles, for improved comfort and reduced stiffness
   • Floor Runners/carpeting: Minimize slipping; Dr Buzbys toegrips may also be helpful. Assist your pet as needed on slick surfaces, or stairs.

Medications:

1. • Non Steroidal Anti Inflammatories (NSAIDs) These forms of medication are used to treat pain by reducing the cause of pain: inflammation. Typically, these medications reduce inflammation by reducing prostaglandin synthesis. Prostaglandins are also used in mucous production, so intestinal ulceration can also occur as a side effect with chronic use. Human varieties of NSAIDs (such as aspirin, acetaminophen, ibuprofen) may be toxic as our pets do not metabolize these drugs the same way, and should never be given without strict veterinary guidance. Pet specific NSAID varieties include most commonly Carprofen, Meloxicam, or Previcox.  These medications are metabolized and excreted through the liver and kidneys, so they should only be administered in accordance to labelled recommendations, Can cause vomiting and diarrhea.
   • Galliprant: an anti-inflammatory for the control of pain and inflammation associated with osteoarthritis, but does not employ the most common pathway of other NSAIDs. This medication does not metabolize through the kidney or liver so may be better tolerated for those with underlying diseases. Can be given every 24 hours. Can cause vomiting and diarrhea.
   • Gabapentin: Used in controlling the sensation of pain as it is very specific to nerve pain. Should be given every 8 hours. Working alongside the team at Crow hill Veterinary Hospital, this medication dosing should be titrated to achieve the optimal effect, without sedation.
   • Amantadine: Used in controlling the sensation of pain. Can be given up to every 12 hours. Can cause agitation or gi issues
   • Methocarbamol: A muscle relaxant. Can be used up to every 8 hours. Can cause lethargy or loss of coordination
   • CBD Oil: Used as a homeopathic anti-inflammatory. Can be given up to every 12 hours. Must be careful in finding a reputable company as some can have high levels of THC which is toxic to pets.
   • Joint Supplements (canine & feline): Often containing glucosamine, MSM, & chondroitin. We recommend VRS Omega benefits, VRS Osteo benefits, Dasuquin Advanced, InPrime or Flexadin. Protects the cartilage and can help slow down arthritic changes by lubricating the joints. Dosages vary with each supplement
   • Adequan (canine): Inhibits cartilage loss in the dog’s joints, and may help to restore joint lubrication, relieve inflammation, and renew the building blocks of healthy cartilage. Administer twice weekly for up to 4 weeks (maximum of 8 injections) by intramuscular injection only.

Diets:

These prescription diets are specifically formulated and scientifically proven to reduce pain and inflammation. The diets are formulated to include increased fatty acids to reduce inflammation, as well as increased antioxidants and glucosamine & chondroitin. Other beneficial nutrients, such as Green Lipped Mussel, can be found in select brands. These formulas include: Purina ProPlan Joint Mobility, Hills Joint Diet, or Royal Canin Mobility Support.