September is Pain Awareness Month: Understanding and Managing Pain in Pets

“Good pain management in suffering animals is not only an obligation but a professional privilege.”

At Westway Animal Clinic, we take pain management seriously. September is Pain Awareness Month, and it’s the perfect time to highlight the importance of recognizing and treating pain in our pets. 

Pain is a universal experience for every living being, yet it’s difficult to define or quantify. The definition of pain is “an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with actual or potential tissue damage or described in terms of such damage” (Merskey 1979). Even though we all know what pain feels like, identifying it in our pets can be challenging.

Our Pain Management Guidelines:

At Westway Animal Clinic, we adhere to the AAHA (American Animal Hospital Association) Pain Management Guidelines to ensure we are providing the best care for your pets.

•  Recognizing Pain: Detecting pain in animals can be difficult because they often hide their discomfort. Several tools have been developed to help with pain assessment, such as the Feline Grimace Scale for acute pain in cats, the Colorado Pain Scale for dogs and cats, the LOAD Score (dogs)and Feline Musculoskeletal Pain Index (FMPI – cats) for assessing osteoarthritis. We use these tools in conjunction with our observations and input from you, the pet owner, to guide us toward proper pain management.

•  Our Approach: Pain management at our clinic is a shared responsibility. Our team, including veterinarians, registered veterinary technicians (RVTs) and animal care attendants, works together to assess, interpret, and explain both acute (sudden) and chronic (ongoing/long-term) pain to our clients.

Pain vs. Anxiety and Stress:

It’s important to note that anxiety and stress can present with behaviours similar to pain in both dogs and cats. Signs such as hiding, decreased activity, and vocalizing can be due to anxiety, not just physical pain. To reduce anxiety for dogs, we may recommend using pre-visit medications such as gabapentin or trazodone. Some pets may require a combination of medications; this is determined by having a conversation with the veterinarian and the client.

Feline-Friendly Handling:

For our cat patients, we take extra measures to provide a stress-free experience. Using Feliway pheromone-sprayed blankets in transport cages can create a calming environment, while pre-visit gabapentin is helpful in reducing anxiety and making handling easier and more comfortable for your cat during exams.

• Comprehensive Exams: Our physical exams go beyond routine handling to include careful observation of your pet’s posture, gait, and behaviour. 

• Pain as the Fourth Vital Sign: At Westway Animal Clinic, we treat pain as a vital sign, alongside temperature, heart rate, and respiratory rate. We use pain scoring charts during all patient evaluations and regularly reassess your pet’s pain level, even during routine assessments. 

• Communication is Key: An open line of communication between pet parents and our team plays a critical role in ensuring pain is effectively managed. That collaboration between us and pet parents helps us determine when a re-examination is needed—typically every 3-6 months for pets on chronic pain medications.

• Prevent, Anticipate, Treat: Proactively preventing and treating pain helps improve your pet’s quality of life. Both drug therapies and non-pharmacological interventions – such as Laser therapy, acupuncture, Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) for dogs, and/or physiotherapy – play a role in effective pain management.

Take Action:

If you think your dog or cat may be experiencing pain, contact Westway Animal Clinic for a pain assessment. We’re here to help you and your pet live a happier, pain-free life!

Watch this short video to understand why treating pain is not just a responsibility but an obligation for us.