Pain Management

If your little furry friend seems to be in pain from illness, injury, veterinary surgery, arthritis, or any other factor that can inflict discomfort on your pet, the doctor will choose from many trusted pain management options through our West Cleveland, Ohio, veterinary hospital. Not only will your pet be able to make it through each day much more comfortably, but also he or she will also reap several other benefits, such as:

• Reduced stress
• Increased level of general wellbeing and health
• Possibly a faster, improved recovery time
• Lowered chances of re-injury or advanced, secondary complications
• Greater probability of living a longer, happier, healthier life

PET PAIN MANAGEMENT OPTIONS

Whatever you do, please do NOT give your pet human medications such as Advil or Ibuprofen. This is not safe and can ultimately harm your companion animal. At West Park Animal Hospital, we can provide you with a safe, trusted, and appropriate means of prescribed pet pain management that has been FDA-approved. Some options include:

• Non-steroidal medications
• Narcotics
• Supplements like glucosamine
• Nerve block injections (a numbing injection used during teeth extractions or declaw surgeries, for example)
• Laser surgery (an overall less painful method of surgery using a laser rather than a scalpel)

HOW WILL I KNOW IF MY PET IS IN PAIN? SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF DISCOMFORT IN ANIMALS

It is important to familiarize yourself with your pet’s daily routine and behaviors so that you may easily identify when something isn’t quite right. If you notice any sudden and persistent changes, please schedule an appointment with us as soon as possible so that we can assess, diagnose, and immediately treat your pet for any health care problems that may arise. Often times, the following signs and symptoms indicate that your companion animal may be feeling discomfort or pain:

• Sudden change in appetite or water intake
• Unresponsiveness; being uncharacteristically quiet and still
• Unusual aggressiveness, especially if you touch or pet a tender spot
• Uncommonly seeking extra attention; not leaving your side
• Shaking
• Heavy, persistent panting
• Exceptional crying, whining, whimpering, or meowing
• Hiding
• Inability to get comfortable, constantly shifting positions and displaying restlessness
• Sleeplessness
• Acting out of character
• Pinning the ears against the head

Thank you for your Cleveland Hot List votes. We were voted #1 again for the 5th year in a row! We are happy to continue to serve the community and appreciate your support.