Managing pain in animals

Pain is a topic that can relate to all types of animals and humans alike. It can vary from an acute and intense pain through to a dull and constant ache.

We don't like to experience pain, and don't like it when our animals do either. Here I will share some thoughts around pain, and its management in our animal friends.

Pain in animals can be difficult to assess as to its intensity as they cannot verbally tell us what is going on and how they are feeling, so we need to look at behaviours and signs that will help us to identify pain.

Knowing your pets 'normal' is important when noticing subtle signs that something is wrong.

 Pain usually occurs with tissue damage

Although pain is a signal to the body there has been tissue damage, it can have ongoing more  consequences as well, such as affecting hormonal stress response, which impacts the metabolism and endocrine function. Excessive inflammation can also slow healing and  increase recovery times.

Knowing your dogs normal can help you to notice when they are in pain

Pain can also be neurological

We think of the pain response from tissue injury, however some types of pain are more neurological, or neuropathic, where there is no identifiable injury that is triggering the pain. This pain exists in the central nervous system, but is no less real than other types of pain, such as a visceral pain, or musculoskeletal pain.

Acute pain

There is nothing cute about acute pain

Acute pain usually occurs with an injury, and can be an extreme level of pain, that is incredibly debilitating and intense.

Acute pain will generally dissipate and resolve as the healing process progresses. This pain can slowly subside over the course of healing.

Chronic pain

A more chronic pain occurs over several months, and can be a much more mentally debilitating pain, which has much greater impacts to the affected animals quality of life.

An acute pain can become prolonged to become a more chronic pain, especially if there is an incomplete healing, excessive scarring or nerve damage that has occurred.

Chronic pain can last for months, or years, and in some cases will last their lifetime. This is often the type of pain that we see personality changes over time as they have to cope with this persistent pain.

In an animal, we can see generalised symptoms of pain, however the nature of the pain may not be so easily identified.

Prey animals are naturally going to disguise pain or sickness much better than predator species. Pain and illness is a sign of weakness and vulnerability and makes them a much more appealing target than a robust and healthy animal.

General signs of pain to look for

• Demeanor- how is their general energy and vitality? Are they a little more subdued or quiet? Less interested in what else is going on around them?

• Responsiveness to you and to other people

• Are they moving less? Are they favouring an area of the body, do they have a limp? Is there posture different to usual? Are they more hunched up, or tucked up in the stomach?

• Are they paying more attention to an area than usual? Licking an area or looking at a certain area. Are they starting to chew or cause damage to the skin in a certain area?

• Are they more vocal? Yelping or whining more? Meowing more?

• Are they grinding their teeth (common in goats, cattle and sheep as a pain sign)

• Do they have a different facial expression? Is it tighter? Or more altert?

• Is their heart rate or respiratory rate up? breathing faster can be short shallow yet rapid breaths, or they can be panting excessively for the current temperature.

• Are they off their food, trembling etc?

Infographic of different pain signs in dogs and cats.

Signs of pain in a dog

Signs of pain in cats

You can find the downloadable PDF here

My Animal is in pain. Now what?

Managing pain in animals  

So knowing they are in pain is only the first step. We also need to be able to identify why they are in pain, and then do something about it.

Some causes of pain are going to be very obvious. A clear area of injury, swelling or tissue damage.

Some causes will be much more difficult to identify, and may not be identifiable without the use of different diagnostic tool. - such as kidney stones, kissing spine etc.

Sometimes pharmaceutical pain medicine is indicated

There are some very good pharmaceutical medications that can address the acute pain, and in some cases, this is important in the acute management in a painful condition. It can make the animal much more comfortable very quickly. We do always need to consider an animals welfare.

Supporting the system when using pain medications

Of course these medications are not without risk, and can be an issue for some animals. If an animal requires some acute pain management we can always provide these supportive pain management options, and then come in with some more natural pain support therapies, and address any of the side effects that may have come with the use of the other medications.

Turmeric is a well known anti-inflammatory for pain mangement

Herbs and nutrients can work beautifully, however they may take a few days to really kick in. Some anti-inflammatory agents may even take some months for the full effect to be seen (such as omega 3 essential fatty acids) So we can start these therapies alongside the medications, and then we can wean off the drugs, and manage them more holistically once the initial pain is controlled.

Common issues with pain medications

Some of the more common issues with NSAIDS is gastric irritation, and strain of the kidneys, for some animals, this may lead to kidney damage, or put strain on already compromised kidneys. addiction can be a problem with some of the more opiate based pain relief, however this is much less of an issue for an animal who has no capacity to maintain a habit!

If we can come in straight away with gastrointestinal tract support, kidney and liver support to help clear the medications, alongside herbal and nutritional anti-inflammatories and pain relieving herbs, we are going to have the best outcome.

Acute pain has a function 

Some acute pain at an initial injury can be very important for helping to immobilise an animal, and this can keep them off an injury, and prevent further damage to the area. We want to keep them comfortable, but not so comfortable to the point of feeling they can continue normal use on the affected area. Some level of movement restriction can be very valuable in healing. The worst sight for an owner of an injured horse, is them tearing around a paddock!

Pain can be expressed on the face

Herbs and nutrients for pain relief

There are lots of different herbs and nutrients that can be used in pain management. Primarily anti-inflammatory actions, however they can also have a direct pain sensation reduction action working on the nerve and pain signalling pathways, and also a tissue clearing or alterative action which can help to move inflammatory metabolites out of the tissues.

Some herbs I like to use in pain management - definitely not an exhaustive list

• Devils claw- great herb for musculoskeletal pain, that helps move the inflammatory metabolites out of the muscles. 

• White willow - contains salicilin- the original asprin

• Turmeric - a very powerful anti inflammatory and supports the liver function

• Californian poppy - great for neuropathic pain, or for highly stressed animals where the pain is worsened from this stress response.

• Boswellia- anti-inflammatory that reduces leukotrienes in the inflammatory pathway

• Wild yam- great for spasmolytic pain or if there is a large amount of tension within the body

Honourable mentions include Feverfew, ginger, guaiacum, meadowsweet, papain and bromelain, CBD oil. Lots of potential herbs for different pain presentations.

Nutrients that can be used for pain relief

PEA palmitoylethanolamide - really great for reducing inflammation, especially when there is a nerve type pain occurring - with the added benefit of reducing histamine - which can drive systemic inflammation.

P.E.A Plus

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Essential fatty acids - Omega 3- can be very good at reducing inflammation, however the effects of this one can be a little slower, and can take a couple of months for the full effect to be realised.

Great for tissue repair and recovery.

Magnesium- is an essential mineral, and with deficiency we can see problems with nerve transmission, muscle tension and heightened stress levels, all which will impact pain response.

Addressing the cause of the pain

When addressing pain, we also look at the driver of the pain, and act to address this. There is no point only addressing pain, whilst not helping to support tissue healing and recovery.

If the pain is related to arthritis with a joint- glucosaminoglycans, chondroitin, manganese, zinc, omega 3 essential fatty acids. Bone broth can be a low cost way to add these important nutrients to the diet.

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If the pain is from an immune mediated condition- we need to modulate the immune response going on. Helping to reduce the tissue destruction occuring.

So adding in herbs like hemidesmus, rehmannia, withania, nigella even echinacea. For these conditions I recommend guidance before adding these herbs in.

If we have a wound or injury- we support tissue healing

Vitamin C, zinc, collagen, vitamin C, gotu kola, calendula, yarrow.

A nerve pain- address any known cause of nerve impingent- then herbs like st johns wort, Californian poppy, corydalis, PEA, skullcap, lions mane

Body work is also valuable in pain management. It can help support movement of oedema, inflammatory metabolites, improve blood flow and oxygenation of the tissues and also helps to support the nervous system with tactile touch over the nerves of the skin. Release of tight muscles and areas of tension.

If you have a pet that has an injury, or are experiencing pain you would like to manage more holistically, you can book in for a personalised consultation , where we can address the pain and the underlying drivers for this

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