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Simple Pain Management Tips for Pets
Pets have a hugely positive effect on our happiness and mental health. Although rewarding, being a pet parent also requires a lot of responsibilities. For one, you need to make sure that you keep your furry or fluffy friend free from any kind of sickness.
Essentially, pets are like human beings—they get sick, and leaving the problem unaddressed can result in serious health problems. Pain can also become the reason why your once playful pet can become isolated and depressed.
To ensure that this doesn’t happen to your pet, take note of the following pain management tips.
1. Let Your Pet Rest
One of the easiest yet most effective ways to manage pain among pets is to let them rest. Strict rest can help your pet recover from any injuries faster without disrupting some of their most essential bodily functions, such as slowing their muscle recovery, dog digestion and their cognitive abilities. Here are some tips on how to help your pet rest:
- Depending on the size and injury of your pet, you can let them rest in a crate or any confined area around your home. You can utilize makeshift areas, as long as it will restrict their movements and prevent another member of your family or another pet from playing with them.
- When letting your dog rest, limit their walks to less than five minutes so they can still have time for potty breaks. Cats, on the other hand, should be confined in an area where they cannot jump and are provided with a low-edged litter box.
Usually, if your pet has minor injuries, they can recover after 24 to 48 hours of rest. For serious injuries such as back and knee injuries, it’s best if you let them rest for at least two weeks. Additional back support may be worn during crate rest. Back braces help to alleviate pain and support a pet's spine. The more severe their injuries are, the more time they should rest in order to recover.
2. Provide Supplements That Are Approved by Your Vet
Just like human beings, pets can take daily supplements that can help boost their immune systems and keep them safe from common body pains. Supplements usually do not have any side effects, which means that your pets can take them regularly.
Supplements can provide immediate pain relief when taken daily or given during the first sign of pain and discomfort.
Here are some of the most common supplements you can give to your pets to keep them safe from pain and other common health conditions:
- Glucosamine and Chondroitin: These compounds are common in pet supplements and work by slowing down the progression of joint diseases and alleviating the pain associated with arthritis. If you’re looking after a senior pet that currently has issues on mobility due to body pain, look for a supplement that contains these compounds.
- Omega-3s: Omega-3 fatty acids that can help support your pets’ healthy joints.
3. Make Homemade Natural Treats
There are a lot of herbal treatments available to manage body pain. Aside from being effective, these herbal treatments are also very inexpensive and convenient as you can make them in the comfort of your home.
If you notice that pets are experiencing pain, check your kitchen or cupboard and look for the following herbs:
- Ginger: The Best Cat Page explains that this herb acts as an antispasmodic agent that works by alleviating muscle and stomach pain. When using ginger in managing pain among pets, mince the herb and apply it topically to your pet’s skin.
- Turmeric: Because of its anti-inflammatory properties, turmeric can be given to pets as supplements. You can mix them with their pet food or let them take the turmeric as is.
- Cayenne: This herb also contains a very powerful pain-blocking chemical called capsaicin and has natural anti-inflammatory properties. Your pets can enjoy the natural benefits of cayenne by using the herb as cream and applying it topically in their skin.
4. Go Holistic
Your pets also benefit from the advances of the healthcare industry – today, more and more treatments are available to help them treat pain. If your pets experience recurring pain that doesn’t seem to go away even after resting for long periods and taking supplements, holistic treatments might work for them.
Generally, pets can make use of the following holistic treatments in managing pain:
Therapeutic Laser
Laser therapy is one of the most effective holistic treatments for pets today. This works by improving the blood flow and flushing away the inflammation that causes body pain. This type of therapy is beneficial for pets dealing with osteoarthrits pain, IVDD and other conditions involving inflammation.
Depending on the age of your pet and the severity of their injuries or diseases, they can utilize this treatment every other day. Typical treatment length lasts between two to three weeks, although this varies by case.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture is common among human beings, but are you aware that your furry friend can also benefit from this traditional Chinese medicine technique? Your pet's pain can be managed with acupuncture because it restores the proper energy balance of their bodies and helps their bodies heal naturally.
Although beneficial, acupuncture does require cooperation from your pet. They have to remain quiet and calm for at least thirty minutes to complete their sessions. Pet owners who haven’t trained their pets how to behave might have a hard time using this therapy.
Chiropractic Treatment
Chiropractic treatment works by realigning the joints in your pets’ body so they can move more comfortably and effectively. If your pets are experiencing pain due to severe injuries, you might need to complete more than one session.
See Your Vet
Regardless of how you care for your pets, keep in mind that your skills and resources to manage your pets’ pain are limited. If you have ticked off all of the items in this article and you notice that your pet is still in pain, see their vet right away. They have the necessary experience and equipment to diagnose your pets and provide effective treatments.
