Dog - Pain Assessment and Control

Today pain control is an important part of treatment for any condition in which it is considered that pain may be present.  Even with relatively routine procedures, such as neutering, pain plays a part.  Control is usually involved in the premedication and anaesthetic procedure.

What is pain?

Pain is a physical phenomenon that is very difficult to objectively assess, particularly with our pets.  Therefore objective classification is almost impossible but generally it is classified by degree.  For example mild, moderate, intense or substantial.  It is also classified by duration - acute or chronic. For example acute pain would occur following a severe graze and chronic pain (indicating a longer duration) occurs with many joint diseases such as arthritis.  Acute and chronic pain can also be described according to its degree, i.e. mild, moderate or intense.

What is discomfort?

Discomfort is also a physical phenomenon and is often thought of as a milder form of pain.  It sometimes involves merely inconvenience, such as. the dog with a bandaged foot or chewing gum stuck between the pads.

What about distress?  Is this associated with pain?

Distress is more psychological than physical and may, or may not, be associated with pain and/or discomfort.  For example when a bitch is separated from her puppies or a social animal is kept alone, distress is frequently apparent.  Is the animal actually in pain?  Another example is the dog returning home from recent surgery.  The dog usually sleeps with the owners in the bedroom but there are strict instructions that it must not mount the stairs.  It is therefore confined to the kitchen and spends the night whining and scrabbling at the door.  Obviously distressed, is this dog in pain since he was released with adequate analgesia which has been administered by the owner?

How is pain assessed?

Pain assessment in our dogs is subjective (it can't be measured) and difficult.  We know that it is a feeling of distress or suffering caused by the stimulation of specialised nerve endings.  It can be thought of as protective, acting as a warning that a certain part of the body is not functioning normally.  It must not be overlooked that some dogs will disguise signs of pain in order to reduce their vulnerability to others.

What are the signs of pain?

These include:

• vocalisation - whimpering or barking
• abnormal posture (eg hunched uo with abdominal pain)
• dilated pupils
• lack of appetite
• shivering
• hiding in dark corners
• panting and increased respiratory rate
• increased heart rate (tachycardia)  
• pyrexia (fever)

Analgesia and pain control

As mentioned, analgesics (pain killers) are often incorporated into the premedication prior to an anaesthetic even for relatively short procedures such as neutering.  This is because the incorporation of appropriate analgesic drugs during premedication and anaesthesia prevents the patient from feeling pain once recovered from the anaesthetic.

I have been told that acupuncture may be of assistance. Is this possible?

There are various forms of complementary medicine that can help in cases of chronic pain.  Please do not hesitate to discuss this with us and we will do our best to help.

My dog has chronic back pain and is on painkillers continuously.  Are there any side effects?

Just as with people, the chronic use of analgesics can result in certain side effects particularly affecting the gastro intestinal tract (vomiting and diarrhoea).  However, there are modern licensed products for use in the dog which are very effective and in the majority of cases are free from side effects at the recommended doses.  Any unusual reactions should immediately be reported.

Pain control in dogs is very similar to that in ourselves; what suits one sometimes does not suit another.

If you are at all concerned regarding pain control please do not hesitate to contact us.