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How To Choose Pain Control Medications for Dogs and Cats
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Adequate pain medication i vital to your pet's recovery from surgery or illness or injury
An important issue in veterinary medicine is pain control in our pets. The American Association of Feline Practitioners published Pain Management Guidelines to explain how pain management improves the pet's recovery process whether from injury, illness or surgery. Over the years, veterinary research has concluded that pain management increases a sense of well being and reduces stress.
There are two types of pain: acute and chronic. Acute pain is usually the result of injury, inflammation, infection or surgery and can limit mobility. It is usually temporary and resolves when the condition is treated.
Chronic pain is usually slow developing and longer lasting. This pain may be the most difficult to treat as it is usually due to age-related disorders such as arthritis and also from bone or cancer disease. Because it is longer lasting, the pet may learn to tolerate the pain resulting in difficulty to diagnose.
Always talk to your veterinarian about pain relief prior to bringing your dog or cat home. Don't wait until your pet is in pain to discover that you don't have any pain medication; adequate pain relief not only alleviates the pet's suffering but also facilitates recovery and healing.
If your pet needs gentle pain relief, consider using homeopathic remedies which are readily available in health food stores, large grocery store chains and online. Most human homeopathic formulations work equally well for dogs and cats in very small doses. There are numerous holistic veterinary websites with information available to become informed about these alternatives.
Gentle pain relief remedies including Arnica and Willow Bark which have similar properties as aspirin but gentler on the stomach. Aspirin is an alternative but can cause stomach irritation so should only be given with food and in a buffered form such as Vetrin or Ascriptin. Make sure you have clearly read dosage instructions with all medications as mixing them could cause adverse reactions.
If your pet needs greater pain relief, there are several veterinarian prescription drugs including Tramadol which can be used with NSAIDS (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs). NSAIDS include Metacam, Ketofen and Etogesic which are reportedly safer with fewer side effects than Rimadyl or Deramax although all NSAIDS can cause stomach upset. Some NSAIDS are more effective when given as an injection rather than orally.
The greatest pain relief involved narcotics such as Duragesic, Morphine and Oxycodone generally are given for post-orthopedic surgeries or deep tissue injuries.
The University of Wisconsin's School of Veterinary Medicine is collaborating with chemists at the University of Wisconsin's School of Pharmacy chemists to develop an opoid solution which is injected and reported to give pain relief for up to seven (7) days with a single injection.
Veterinary Anesthesia & Analgesia Support Group for information about pain control
Pet Homeopathy Dosages
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