“Nipping Pain in the Bud”: early intervention for pets

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What is "wind-up pain"?

Wind-up pain is a phenomenon where a persistent pain stimulus causes the nervous system to become increasingly sensitive over time. Wind-up pain (i.e. prolonged pain) results in a heightened and prolonged pain response, which can be more severe and difficult to manage than the original pain. Essentially, once wind-up pain occurs, even mild stimuli can cause exaggerated pain responses, making the condition harder to treat and manage effectively. In other words, the longer pain goes untreated, the worse it gets and the more difficult it becomes to manage.

The Importance of Early Pain Management

Managing pain at its onset is critical because it helps prevent the development of wind-up pain. When pain is addressed both promptly and appropriately, it is less likely to escalate into a chronic condition. Pain affects not only the animal's physical health but also their behavioural and emotional well-being. Early pain management can:

1. Reduce Suffering: Timely intervention alleviates pets' immediate discomfort and suffering, contributing to a better quality of life. Just because our fur children cannot tell us they are in pain does not mean that they do not experience pain.

2. Prevent Chronic Pain: Addressing pain early reduces the risk of it becoming chronic. Chronic pain can be more complex to treat and manage, often requiring a multi-faceted approach.

3. Facilitate Recovery: Effective pain management supports faster recovery from injuries or surgeries by reducing the stress and discomfort that can slow down the healing process.

Identifying Pain in Dogs and Cats

Unlike humans, our pets cannot verbally express their pain, so pet parents need to recognise signs of discomfort. Here are a few tips on identifying pain in your animal companion:

1. Behavioural Changes: Pets in pain may exhibit changes in behaviour, such as increased aggression or withdrawal. For instance, a usually friendly cat might become irritable, or a dog might growl when touched. A dog that would typically come to the gate to greet you may stop, and cat grooming may be reduced.

2. Altered Activity Levels: Pain often reduces activity levels. A dog that used to be energetic might become lethargic, and a cat might stop engaging in play or hide more frequently.

3. Changes in Posture and Mobility: Pets in pain might adopt unusual postures to avoid discomfort, such as arching their back or limping. Difficulty in movement, such as hesitancy to climb stairs or jump, is also a significant indicator.

4. Physical Signs: Look for signs such as panting, increased heart rate, or changes in eating and drinking habits. Cats might also show signs like excessive grooming in a specific area, indicating localised pain. Similar occurs in dogs who may excessively lick a painful area or bite or nibble at a painful limb.

5. Vocalisations: Increased moaning, whining, yelping, or meowing can signal pain, especially if these sounds are new or frequent.

Treatment Implications of Wind-Up Pain

When wind-up pain has developed, treatment becomes more challenging. It often requires a comprehensive approach that includes:

1. Advanced Pain Relief: Depending on the severity of the pain, conventional pain medications might be supplemented with more advanced treatments such as nerve blocks or opioids.

2. Multimodal Pain Management: Combining different types of pain relief strategies, including non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), analgesics, heat packs, ice packs, acupuncture and other physical therapy treatment modalities such as therapeutic laser and e-stim (TENS), can be more effective in managing complex pain.

3. Behavioral Interventions: Behavioral therapy might be needed to help pets cope with chronic pain and reduce stress, which can exacerbate pain.

4. Ongoing Monitoring: Regular check-ups (especially if your pet is on chronic pain medication) are important, as adjustments to the treatment plan may be required to ensure that pain management remains effective as your animal companion's condition evolves.

5. Weight Management: Fat tissue plays a significant role in the presentation of pain, primarily through its impact on the endocrine system and inflammation. Adipose tissue (i.e. fat) secretes various hormones and inflammatory cytokines, which influence pain perceptions by increasing pain sensitivity and exacerbating chronic pain conditions. Furthermore, chronic inflammation associated with obesity can make managing pain more challenging. Managing your animal companion's weight is crucial in managing painful conditions in your pet.

In summary, managing pain in dogs and cats at the early onset is vital for preventing wind-up pain and ensuring a better quality of life for pets. By recognising the signs of pain and intervening early, pet parents can avoid the complications associated with chronic pain and provide their furry friends with the comfort and care they deserve. Regular veterinary check-ups and a proactive approach to pain management are crucial to achieving these goals.

Chat with us about the various ways in which we can help you manage chronic pain associated with orthopaedic and neurological conditions such as osteoarthritis, hip dysplasia, IVDD, etc., or how we can help you manage your pet's weight better through our nutrition consultations or one of our exercise programs designed for weight loss.