Pain Management Services From Our Animal Hospital in Hayward
When your pet is hurting, so are you. Animals face many of the same pain problems as humans, from degenerative joint conditions to acute injury pain. Unfortunately, some of these issues do not disappear as easily as an acute injury mending itself. When your pet suffers from chronic pain, you need to find a pain management strategy that can help him regain his quality of life. That’s when it’s good to know that our animal hospital in Hayward, Caring Pet Hospital, can provide effective pain management programs for pets just like yours.
Understanding Pain in Pets
It’s easy enough to identify the immediate cause of pain in a pet who has just been struck by a car or undergone major surgery. As the damage to his body heals, the pain fades. But other causes of pain may linger or recur indefinitely, severely curtailing your pet’s ability to function normally or enjoy his favorite activities. Sometimes an old injury will leave scar tissue buildup or nerve damage that produces this discomfort. Congenital joint conditions such as hip dysplasia may cause steadily-worsening damage and dysfunction in the affected joint, causing lameness, pain, and stiffness. Osteoarthritis, that common affliction of humans, is a frequent issue in senior pets as well. As the cartilage between joint surfaces wears down and breaks up over time, painful bone-on-bone friction may result. Certain types of advanced or terminal cancer can also prove extraordinarily painful for your pet.
The first step in getting help for your pet’s pain condition is recognizing the telltale symptoms of that pain. Common signs to watch for include:
- Crying or other vocalizations
- Resistance to being touched
- Refusal to play or go for walks
- Difficulty climbing stairs, standing up, or lying down
- Holding the ears flat against the head
Cats are more careful than dogs to hide their pain as much as possible — an instinctive reaction that helps to protect them against opportunistic predators. But if your cat has started to go into hiding or assumes a tense, crouched stance, he may be in pain.
A Variety of Pain Management Options
Our Hayward animal hospital can figure out where your pet’s pain is coming from and then provide the right assortment of therapies to help get that pain under control. Sometimes lifestyle changes can prove extremely helpful, such as weight loss to reduce pressure on joints and gentle exercise routines to keep the joints from getting stiffer. Nutritional changes can help as well, especially if we can increase your pet’s consumption of anti-inflammatory foods. Medications to manage pain include NSAIDs, corticosteroids, and opiates. We can even perform surgery to prohibit bone-on-bone friction or replace a deteriorated joint.
Let Our Hayward Animal Hospital Help Your Pet
Your pet deserves a happy, comfortable life — so let Caring Pet Hospital help you make it possible. Call (510) 537-1788 to schedule an appointment at our Hayward animal hospital!
