Do you know how to recognize pain in your pet? Many people are surprised to learn that their pet is painful. In people, when we are in pain, we are very vocal about it. I sure am! If I am hurt I will call out loudly for someone to bring me ice cream! This is now how our pets work, however. Animals will only cry out when the event happens, acutely. Think about accidentally stepping on the cat’s tail. Yeow! That’s the big yell. You won’t hear a peep after that, however, no matter how much it hurts. Animals aren’t big complainers.
Yes, I know, there are exceptions to this- pets who learn our ways so incredibly well that they do learn that vocal complaining gets them what they want; this comes from being extremely observant of us, and our ways!
Animals on the whole are survivalists. It gains an animal nothing to call attention to weakness- so complaining of an injury or chronic pain is not something they wish to do most of the time. The only way most of us know our pet is in pain is by seeing physical signs, such as limping or having difficulty posturing to go to the bathroom, difficulty getting up the stairs or into the car, and generally being slower and less able than they were previously.
Limping IS pain. Let’s say that again- any animal that limps, is experiencing pain! They may not complain (as I surely would!) but the pain is there all the same. The older animal who takes a long time to get going? Pain. Can’t jump into the car? Pain (or weakness- but they often come about together).
This is where pain control becomes so important. We must not be afraid to use whatever tools we have to alleviate pain!
So what is “multi-modal” pain control? Basically, it is using many different means to achieve the same goal: comfort and mobility.
1) Pain medications: non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs), other pain control medications such as tramadol; gabapentin (which calms down nerve pain) and so forth. Many of these work well together.
2) Supplements: glucosamine with MSM and chondroitin; omega fatty acids; turmeric and others.
3) Physical modalities: massage, trigger point myotherapy, acupressure and acupuncture, plus chiropractics.
4) Alternative modalities: soft/ cold laser, e-stim, Assissi Loop, magnets and so forth.
Some of these things are backed by science and some are not. I lean toward proven methods first but I believe it is absolutely fine to try new things (if you are certain they do no harm, that is.) Usually it is a combination of many of these methods that gets the animal up and going again. If using an alternative modality lowers the drug dosages the pet has to take, all the better!