Post archive for May 2011

Vancouver Veterinarians : Recognizing Pain in Dogs and Cats

Research has verified that animals feel pain to the same extend as human beings.  Pain sensation originated either in the skin, the deep tissues such as bone, joint and muscle, or in the internal organs.  Pain is evidenced by decreased use of the painful part, possibly by overall decreased activity. 

Dogs may cry out in pain, especially if the pain is intermittent and sharp in nature; they may not cry out even when in severe pain if the pain is dull, aching and continuous.  Thus the absence of crying, whining, or groaning is not an indication that pain is absent.  Better indicators of the presence of pain include:

• attempts to decrease use of the painful part, such as by limping
• reluctance to move the neck or back
• reluctance to change body position or to assume any particular body position (refusing to lie down or to stand or sit up)
• withdrawal from all unnecessary activity  

Touching a painful area may elicit sights of resentment, such as motion away from the touch, tightening of the muscles in the area ( splinting ), or aggressive behavior such as growling or biting.  Some dogs, however, may be so tractable or stoic in nature that it is difficult to elicit signs of pain even when pain is undoubtedly...

Veterinary knowledge base by Vancouver vets: Pet owner's examination

At our Vancouver Animal Hospital we are committed to our pet patients' heath and well-being.  We strive to share veterinary knowledge with wide community of pet owners.  To this end we present a series of  blog posts devoted to pets health.  The pets health care topic covered in the following posts will help you to learn the signs of a healthy pet and will teach you to recognize animal disease symptoms at the very early stages of  the illness development.

Please note that these posts were never intended or cannot replace the professional advice of a licensed veterinarian .  Our goal here is to help pet owners recognize the conditions when pets are in trouble and make an educated decision when it is the time to see your vet.

The following guide may help confirm a dog owner's suspicion that something is not quite right so that vet advice and medical care should be sought.  Any marked change in appearance of behavior, whether or not it is included in the following list, should be evaluated by your veterinarian or by vets at our Vancouver Animal Hospital.  Redness, heat, swelling, pain, breaks in the skin, masses or growths, bloody or foul-smelling discharge are signs of disease.

Abnormalities...