Effective Geriatric Pain Management for Pets in Vancouver
As pets transition into their golden years, they're prone to developing adverse health conditions like arthritis that can negatively impact their quality of life. If your older pet seems to be dealing with pain or mobility problems, you may question what veterinary options are available to them. At Market Hill Animal Hospital, we're proud to provide quality pain management offerings ranging from cold laser therapy to diet consultation. Over the years, we've improved our geriatric pain management services to meet the needs of cats and dogs.
Whether your pet is a new or previous patient, you can rest assured that we'll treat them with the kindness and respect they deserve. Our veterinary team employs fear-free techniques when handling your pet to help make their appointment as stress-free as possible. Call our Vancouver veterinary pain clinic today to schedule your beloved pet's next visit with our skilled vet team!
CALL US: (604) 569-1993 REQUEST APPOINTMENT
How Do I Know My Pet Is in Pain?
Unlike humans, cats and dogs can't tell us that they're dealing with pain. Not only that, but cats and dogs, even in old age, retain their natural instinct to hide pain to avoid attracting predators. These challenges can make it difficult to know when your older pet requires veterinary pain management services. However, if you pay close attention to their behavior, you can spot the signs that your pet is dealing with pain and should be brought to our practice. Some of the signs to look for include:
- Abnormal growling or biting
- Licking a particular part of their body
- Flattening their ears against their head
- Avoiding sleeping or eating
- Being overly submissive or attention-seeking
Creating Your Pet's Pain Management Plan
When you bring your pet to our practice for their initial visit, we'll begin by conducting an extensive wellness exam. Our veterinary team will examine your pet's eyes, ears, skin, fur, and gait to determine the source of their pain. From there, we'll ask you about their behavior. Have you noticed a loss of appetite? Have they been hiding away from noise or socialization? We'll create your pet's personalized pain management plan using the gathered information. Some of the Vancouver pain management services we may recommend include the following:
Cold Laser Therapy
Cold laser therapy is a popular noninvasive way to treat various sources of pain in older pets. Our team can use cold laser therapy to address both post-surgical and chronic pain. It's important to remember that this treatment can be invaluable for older pets as sessions are painless and help keep their stress levels down. Cold laser therapy can help your pet in more ways than one, including:
- Stimulating your pet's healing process by targeting a naturally occurring substance called ATP.
- Activating your pet's lymphatic drainage system, which reduces inflammation and lessens pain.
- Encouraging your pet's nerve cells to block pain signals to their brain.
- Increasing your pet's natural production of endorphins to help counteract pain.
Nutrition Consultation
One of the most overlooked components of pain management in older pets is nutrition. Like humans, what your pet puts into its body plays a crucial role in its overall well-being. Older pets, specifically, have slower metabolisms and can put excess stress on their joints when they gain weight. Senior pets are also prone to developing diabetes, and sugar-rich diets can lead to significant pain and discomfort.
As part of our Vancouver pain clinic's services, we offer professional nutrition consultation. Our team can isolate foods that lead to health issues in your pet and create a nutrition plan that keeps them at a healthy weight and avoids health complications. Whether your pet is dealing with chronic dehydration or stomach acid buildup, we'll craft a plan that helps them live out their life free from dietary pain.
Geriatric & Pain Management FAQs
It's normal to have questions about our geriatric and pain management services. That's why our veterinary team is here to answer any that you may have. Some frequently asked questions about our geriatric and pain management services include the following:
It depends on whether your pet is a cat or a dog. Cats enter old age between 7 to 10 years old. On the other hand, dogs can become seniors between 7 and 12 years old, depending on their size. No matter how old your pet may be, our geriatric and pain management services can be adapted to meet their needs.
Yes. Cold laser therapy has no side effects and causes no pain to your pet during or after a session.
Yes. We regularly assist families with multiple senior cats and dogs.
Your Dependable Veterinary Pain Clinic in Vancouver
At Market Hill Animal Hospital, we're proud to provide compassionate geriatric and pain management services for cats and dogs. Our team looks forward to helping your pet enjoy a healthy and comfortable life. Call us today to schedule your pet's next appointment at our pain clinic in Vancouver!
CALL US: (604) 569-1993 REQUEST APPOINTMENT
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