Pet Pain Management & Arthritis Care in Abbotsford
If you believe your dog or cat may be in pain, contact our clinic for an appointment. There are many options that can help your pet feel more comfortable.
Finding the Right Pain Management Plan for Your Pet
Your pet’s appointment will start with a thorough assessment to evaluate where your pet is uncomfortable and what’s causing it. From there we’ll put together a management plan that fits your pet’s lifestyle and your family’s routine.
Pain Management Options for Cats and Dogs
Depending on your pet’s condition, pain management options may include:
- Prescription pain medication
- Therapeutic laser therapy to reduce inflammation and improve mobility
- Joint supplements to support long-term joint health
- Weight management guidance to reduce pressure on painful joints
- Regular monitoring and adjustment of treatment as your pet’s needs change
Signs and Symptoms that Your Cat or Dog May Be in Pain
Pain may be either acute or chronic. Acute pain is sudden and intense and results directly from an injury or surgery. Chronic pain is ongoing and may result from arthritis or other conditions. It requires longer-term management to enhance your pet’s quality of life.
If your cat or dog is showing signs of stiffness, reluctance to jump or climb stairs, changes in gait, changes in behavior, such as aggression, or general slowness that has crept in over time, book an appointment so we can evaluate them. Arthritis is particularly common in senior dogs and cats, though it can affect younger animals too.
We can use our Stance Analyzer to help objectively assess your pet’s weight distribution and comfort while standing. This technology can help detect subtle changes associated with pain, arthritis, injury, or mobility issues, and allows us to better monitor progress over time and response to treatment.
Pet Pain Management and Arthritis Care FAQs
There are many options available to help manage your pet’s discomfort, depending on the cause and severity. Options may include prescription medications, therapeutic laser therapy, and joint supplements. We’ll recommend the right combination based on our findings during your pet’s appointment.
Therapeutic laser uses focused light energy to reduce inflammation, improve circulation, and relieve pain in affected joints. Mill Lake Veterinary Clinic’s class IV laser is a higher-powered therapeutic laser that allows deeper tissue penetration and efficient delivery of treatment energy to targeted tissues. Laser therapy is non-invasive, well-tolerated by most pets, and can make a noticeable difference in mobility and comfort over a course of treatments.
Pets can be good at hiding discomfort. Signs to watch for include stiffness after rest, reluctance to use stairs or jump, changes in posture, decreased activity, and changes in behaviour, including aggression, or unusual quietness. If something feels off, trust your instincts and book a visit.