Dr. Trish Johnson
Compassionate Care, Charlotte, NC
What is the difference between acute and chronic pain in dogs?
Acute pain is more of an injury that happens when they're out running around. Say a dog jumps up and down trying to catch a Frisbee, or the dog chases after a ball or a squirrel. Often, those dogs can hurt different parts of their legs, specifically tendons and ligaments. You'll notice that dog pulls up that leg pretty quick, gets three-legged lame, not using the hurt leg. Sometimes you'll see heat and swelling, and other times we can hear them cry out. Those are all going to be acute types of pain.
Chronic pain is more so for those dogs with chronic conditions, typically in older dogs, our senior citizens, our little sugar puppies with the gray muzzles. Senior dogs tend to have more issues with either arthritis in the spine, the hips and the knees, and sometimes the elbows. Those are all going to be significant places for them to have chronic pain.
And those signs will be a little bit more subtle, and they're not necessarily going to be something that will cause them to cry or yelp. Maybe they're not jumping up in the car as quickly; they can't jump on the bed or complete walks and do those sorts of things like they used to be able to do. They may be slow to get up and down off beds or their dog beds, and they may not be as playful or active. Those are going to be the things that we look at in regards to chronic pain.
How quickly should I bring my dog in if I suspect that they're in pain?
Well, usually, if you see any of those signs in your pet, then we would like to have them come in as soon as you're starting to notice these things, especially if it's more of an acute injury where they were doing something and all of a sudden they're lame. Those injuries are the ones that we want to see sooner. Those tend to be a lot more painful for the pet. And certainly, we want to see them for the chronic issues because there are a lot of things that we can do to help alleviate some of the pain and treat those things to get that animal in a better position moving forward.
What are some other signs and symptoms that my dog might be in pain?
The big signs and symptoms would be slowing down, lack of appetite, not eating and decreased activity, and lying around more than usual. And again, with acute pain, you might experience more crying out, swelling, not using the leg, and limping. Those are all some pretty good signs to keep an eye out for.
Are there any human pain pills like Tylenol or Advil that's okay to give my dog?
I typically do not recommend any of those sorts of things. We see many issues when those medications are given that can damage internal organs. We recommend discussing with your vet precisely what medications are safe and what their recommendations are for pain control.
What are some of the medications that we commonly see?
What we'll use a lot of is a medication called Gabapentin. We have many non-steroidal medications that we use, and we also use some alternative therapies such as acupuncture, laser therapy, and physical therapy. There are many different medications to consider depending on the dog—what they would tolerate and what we feel would be beneficial depending on where they hurt.
Can a veterinarian help me manage my dog's chronic pain?
Absolutely. And the sooner we see these guys, the better, and then we can tailor a good plan of action moving forward. That's going to be the best way to go. And if you have a concern about your pet and you're worried about them being in pain, or you're starting to see some of these signs, certainly give us a call and then we can get them in here, get them evaluated, and get them started on some appropriate treatment.
If you still have other questions and you'd like to reach out to us, you can call us directly at (704) 847-4796, you can email us, or you can reach out on Facebook. But please do reach out, and we'll get back to you as fast as we can.
Dog Pain Management - FAQs
Dr. Trish Johnson
Compassionate Care, Charlotte, NC
How do I know what medication is safe for my dog?
So, typically what we're going to have you guys do is consult with your veterinarian because there are many different types of pain medications out there, and not every one medication is going to be appropriate for the things that we're treating. So, you want to sit down with your veterinarian, have a good head-to-tail exam on your little pet there, and then they can identify exactly where the pain is, how severe it is, and what would a good plan treatment-wise moving forward.
Can I give my dog NSAIDs?
There are lots of NSAIDs out there. I would say that we stay away from human medications for dogs. We have a lot of veterinary-appropriate medications, so no Tylenol, no Advil, or ibuprofen. I would speak with your vet, and then we can formulate a good plan and discuss those options. NSAIDs in dogs can be tricky sometimes, and we want to make sure that it's safe for your pet. It might not be a good option for those with liver or kidney disease, but there are other options for those guys if they need it.
How do I know the dosage of pain medication for my dog?
We calculate the dose, usually by body weight, and then we figure out how long the pet needs it. Is it more of an acute injury or more of a chronic, old-age type of deal where we're treating some osteoarthritis or something like that? Your veterinarian will calculate that dose based on those factors.
Are there any all-natural alternatives for pain medication for dogs?
There are several out there, and I would recommend talking with your vet to see if they're appropriate. It's more of a case by case, and again, we want to determine what's safe.
How do I give medications to my dog?
There are a lot of ways that we get pretty creative here. Many of you who are clients know that we love peanut butter and spray cheese. It's fabulous for getting pills in, and Buddy agrees. With many dogs, what we'll do is either hide it in a pill pocket—a little bit of peanut butter or a little bit of spray cheese. Unfortunately, some sneaky little dogs are very in tune and know that you're hiding stuff in pills or the pill pockets. Those little dogs, what we'll have to do, Buddy will be our little example here. He's like, "Oh no." What we will do as my poor Buddy dog is going to show us, is we're going to open their mouth, and we're going to pop that pill right down there, just like that. He's very embarrassed now. But there are a lot of different ways to get pills in their mouths. If you have any worries or any trouble, and it's just not working out in your household, certainly give us a call, and we can teach you some other neat little tricks that we have in getting medications in pets because it can be a chore sometimes.
Do I need to bring my dog to the vet to get pain medication?
Absolutely. Just getting a good head-to-tail exam on these guys makes all the difference in the world to identify where the pain is at and how painful that pet is, and it's also essential because we can look for progression. Are we getting worse? Are we improving on the pain medication? Do we need more? Do we need less? We can store all of that information with regular visits by keeping tabs on all those things for you.
If you still have other questions and you'd like to reach out to us, you can call us directly at (704) 847-4796, you can email us, or you can reach out on Facebook. But please do reach out, and we'll get back to you as fast as we can.