Pain Control

Our pets can’t talk so it is often up to us to determine when they are experiencing pain so we can help them live a pain-free life. Many older pets show signs of chronic pain that may not be obvious to the untrained eye. Classic signs include lameness and difficulty rising from a sitting or lying position. Less obvious signs can be subtle and easily overlooked or misinterpreted as part of the aging process. This can include a decrease in appetite or activity level, hiding, reluctance to go up or down stairs, irritability, an increase in panting, sleeping more than usual, incontinence or not using the litter box in cats. The most common type of pain that we see in dogs and cats is associated with joint disease or osteoarthritis. A complete history and physical exam can help us determine if your pet may be experiencing pain. At Northbay Animal Hospital, we have at least three potential ways to help treat pain in your pet.

There are several categories of pain medication that may be useful for managing acute and chronic pain. With proper monitoring, many of these medications are safe for extended or long-term administration and can greatly improve the quality of your pet’s life.

Laser therapy is our latest system for treating pain while enhancing the body’s healing response. It is extremely effective at alleviating pain and inflammation associated with many types of inflammatory conditions including skin disease, chronic ear infections, post-surgical incisions, joint pain associated with osteoarthritis, and disc disease associated with chronic back and neck pain. It works much like acupuncture by increasing the production of ATP and nitric acid which increase blood flow and oxygen to the affected area of the body, speeding healing and reducing pain.

Acupuncture, which has been practiced for over 5,000 years in China, is an alternative method of pain control that is very effective in treating a variety of painful conditions in animals. Gordon Cohen, LAC, performs acupuncture on both dogs and cats every Wednesday at our practice.

Any or all of these modalities can be combined to customize a plan for your pet that can provide even more effective pain control and enhanced healing.

For more information or to make an appointment, please call 415-499-8387.

-Dr. Kristina Hansson, D.V.M.