Animal Hospital of Niskayuna
Description
Animals instinctively hide their pain. It is a self-defense mechanism meant to keep them from appearing weak to potential predators. As a result, pet owners must be aware of subtle changes in behavior that might indicate your dog or cat could be experiencing discomfort or pain and be in need of veterinary treatment.
Pain places undue stress on the body, and over time can impact a companion animal’s overall health. When observing a senior dog or cat limping, many pet owners pass it off as simply a condition of old age. The truth is, if your furry house mate is limping, it is usually in pain.
Recognizing Pain in Pets:
- Decrease in activity or mobility
- Difficulty rising
- Stiffness
- Limping
- Resistance to being picked up or held
- Excessive licking
- Vocalizing
- Becoming quiet and withdrawn
- Inappropriate aggressive behavior or irritability
- Personality changes
Treatment Options
Our practice offers a number of solutions for managing both acute and chronic pain in companion animals. Each pain management plan is based on the unique needs and requirements of the individual patient. Our goal is to minimize or eliminate your furry friend’s pain.
We offer pain medications in a variety of forms including pills, oral liquids, transdermals (absorbed through the skin), and injectables.
It is very important that you do not give your pet any medication without consulting your veterinarian. Certain human painkillers, including acetaminophen (found in Tylenol), ibuprofen (found in Advil and Motrin), or combinations of medications can be toxic to pets in very small doses.