Acute Pain
Acute pain comes on suddenly as a result of an injury, surgery, inflammation or infection. It can be extremely uncomfortable for your pet, and it may limit his or her mobility. The good news is that it’s usually temporary. It generally goes away when the condition that causes it is treated.
Chronic Pain
Chronic pain is long-lasting and usually slow to develop. Some of the more common sources of chronic pain are age-related disorders, such as arthritis, but it can also result from illnesses such as cancer or bone disease. This pain may be the hardest to deal with because it can go on for years, or for an animal’s entire lifetime. Also, because it develops slowly, some animals may gradually learn to tolerate the pain and live with it. This can make chronic pain difficult to detect.
Animals instinctually hide pain. How do you know when your pet is hurting? Look for any of the following signs:
- Being Unusually Quiet, Listless, Restless or Unresponsive
- Whining, Whimpering, Howling or Constantly Meowing
- Biting
- Constantly Licking or Chewing at a Particular Part of the Body
- Acting Funny and Out of Character, Whether Aggressively or Submissively
- Flattening Ears Against the Head
- Hiding
- Reluctant to Move
- Having Trouble Sleeping or Eating
- Seeking a Lot More Affection than Usual
- Unable to Get Comfortable (e.g., Constantly Changing Positions to Find the Most Comfortable Position)
- Trembling
Because our fur-babies aren’t able to tell us when something is wrong, it’s important for you, the pet parent, to take note of any changes in their behavior. Look for any of the following signs that maybe your pet’s way of saying “I hurt.”
Many animals, especially cats, naturally disguise signs of pain to protect themselves from predators. However, the lack of obvious signs does not mean they aren’t experiencing pain. If the injury, illness or experience is one that sounds painful to you, it is likely painful to your pet. Modern pain management medications and techniques can safely and effectively control pain with little to no side effects.
