Elizabeth Animal Hospital | Pet Pain Management

Pet Pain Management

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Standards of Care for Pain Management
Prevention or reduction of pain in your pet is the cornerstone of compassionate veterinary care. For years veterinarians have underestimated the level of pain pets experience and consequently have under-treated for pain. Today we recognize that pets hide their pain response by a variety of behaviors, but in fact feel pain and need appropriate pain management.
Elizabeth Animal Hospital recognizes that the best way to control pain associated with surgery and dentistry is to treat pain preemptively and with a multi-modal approachusing safe pain medications. Our bottom line goal is to keep our patients comfortable.
Elizabeth Animal Hospital requires that all patients undergoing potentially painful procedures receive appropriate preemptive and multi-modal pain management.
We provide all of the following for a single pain management charge:
•	Local anesthetic as required.
•	Single injection of Rimadyl® as required.
•	Single post-operative injection of appropriate micro-dose analgesic.
The amount of the charge represents a significant reduction in standard fees and reflects our commitment to pain management and relief for all patients.


Chronic Pain Management
Chronic pain in pets has traditionally been defined by its duration (pain that persists for weeks to months). In veterinary medicine, the most common causes include osteoarthritis, cancer pain and neuropathic pain. In all cases, it significantly impairs the quality of life of the patient.
Treatment of chronic pain can be problematic. Many forms of it become “resistant” to single-agent therapy over time, necessitating a multi-modal approach to therapy. The following is a brief list of some of medications used in the alleviation of chronic pain:
	NSAIDs	Amantadine	Adequan® Canine
	Tramadol	Gabapentin	www.luitpold.com/canine/education/education.htm
NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug) remain the mainstay of therapy for chronically painful patients. Rimadyl® is our first choice NSAID for dogs and Metacam® for dogs or cats. Multiple trials may be required to find the right combination of analgesics. Animals with chronic pain should be rechecked frequently to assess response to therapy and monitor for side effects. NSAID panels (therapeutic drug monitoring) should be run annually to check kidney and liver function. With patience, determination and a willingness to try new techniques, the lives of many of our patients with chronic pain can be dramatically improved.

both Murray and Sherman are being treated for pain management
Murray (a Labrador–Hound mix) was neglected and abused and was in a shelter near death when he was adopted. He has had intermittent chronic pain issues due to conformation problems and earlier poor nutrition. He has been on chronic pain medication for years. Sherman (a Golden Retriever) is also a rescue dog who required a Tightrope CCL repair on both his hind legs. His left leg was done first and then his right 8 weeks later. He is doing very well on his chronic pain management and physical therapy. These two lucky dogs are both owned by TA and Scott, a loving couple who are making sure these dogs have the very best of care.