Is Your Pet in Pain?
Is Your Pet in Pain? The Signs Aren't Always Obvious
If our pets could simply tell us when something hurts, caring for them would be much easier. Instead, dogs and cats often communicate pain through subtle changes in behavior—and those changes can be easy to dismiss as simply getting older or having an “off day.”
Knowing your pet's normal habits is one of your best tools for recognizing when something isn't right.
Watch for Changes in Everyday Behavior
Pain doesn't always mean crying, limping or an obvious injury. Some of the clues can be surprisingly subtle.
Your dog may hesitate before climbing the stairs, stop jumping onto the sofa or seem stiff when getting up after a nap. A normally social pet may begin spending more time alone. Appetite may change. Your pet may become restless, unusually tired or more irritable when touched.
Cats can be particularly good at hiding discomfort. A cat experiencing pain may stop jumping onto a favorite perch, hide more often, groom less—or repeatedly groom one particular area. Even difficulty getting into a litter box can sometimes be a clue.
Veterinary pain guidance identifies changes in appetite, movement, personality, grooming, sleep and posture among signs worth noticing.
Don't Assume It's “Just Old Age”
Slowing down is often associated with aging, but age itself isn't a disease.
If your senior dog no longer wants to take the stairs or your cat suddenly stops jumping onto the bed, there may be an underlying reason. Arthritis, dental disease, injury and other conditions can cause discomfort—and many can be managed once the source is identified.
More Than One Approach to Feeling Better
Every pet is different, and so is every treatment plan.
That's one reason Kowaliga Veterinary Care combines traditional veterinary medicine with integrative approaches. Depending on your pet and the cause of the discomfort, treatment options available at Kowaliga include laser therapy, acupuncture and chiropractic care, alongside conventional veterinary treatment. Kowaliga describes laser therapy as a noninvasive treatment used to reduce pain and improve mobility, while acupuncture is among its options for pain and orthopedic concerns.
The goal isn't simply to add years to our pets' lives. We want those years to be comfortable, active and filled with the things they enjoy.
You Know Your Pet Best
Sometimes the most important thing you can tell your veterinarian is simply, “Something is different.”
Trust that observation. Changes in behavior can be your pet's way of telling you something they can't put into words.
If you've noticed changes in the way your dog or cat moves, eats, sleeps, plays or interacts with your family, talk with the team at Kowaliga Veterinary Care. Together, you can determine whether pain may be part of the picture and discuss the options that are right for your pet.
