Recognizing and Treating Pain in Pets
Pain is an unfortunate part of life; but it serves a purpose insofar that it alerts us to illness and protects us from injury. Sadly, when pain is chronic or intense, our quality of life can diminish – worse still, this is just as true for our pets as it is for us.
Pets are particularly adept in masking signs of pain. This tendency is part of their DNA and a throwback to their ancestors’ days as wild animals, when showing pain meant exposing themselves as possible prey. Because of this, when pets do express pain, it’s not always obvious to their owners.