On Dogs and Pain-Part One
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Pain in animals is an interesting and frustrating subject to discuss with clients. One variation of the pain spiel takes place in the exam room, generally when they bring in a geriatric dog for its annual checkup. I ask the client if they have any concerns or issues regarding the health of the pet: “Anything going on?”
They usually reply, “Oh, he’s fine, just getting old. He’s sleeping more.” That’s when the dance begins. In my mind, I start the check list.
Veterinarians are taught that “old age is not a disease,” and usually there are reasons the dog may “act old.” Here are a few:
• Suffering from some insidious organ dysfunction or issue that’s not making him overtly sick, just slowing him down
• Pain
• Loss of hearing (I’m a little jealous of old dogs in this aspect; they sleep so deep, so relaxed. I never sleep that well.)
• Vision loss: It will affect their overall activity level as well
Only after I’ve ruled these out do I allow myself to conclude: “Yeah, he’s just old.”
So, for the older dog and cat set, I generally recommend an annual blood and urine panel to try to stay on top of those internal things that wear out. They get a full exam to look for problems on the outside. I quiz the clients to see if there is any change in water intake or appetite. Is there any intermittent vomiting? Weight changes? What’s the poop quality? Urine quantity? All those fun, glamorous things that may tip me off that there is something amiss.
Then, I have to tread lightly into the pain issue. I haven’t figured out a way to do this diplomatically yet. If I suggest the dog could be in pain, clients seem to get defensive.
“No, he’s not in any pain; he’s not crying or anything.”
“He takes awhile to get up and get going, but then he moves around and goes on his walks, no problem.”
“Sure, he’s stopped jumping on the couch and he can’t make it around the block anymore, but he’s not in pain, he’s just getting old.”
In my mind, all those statements are signs that maybe the dog is suffering from arthritis or another type of pain-related condition.
More on pain and how animals “vocalize” it in tomorrow’s post.
Dr. Vivian Cardoso-Carroll writing for PetMD
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One of my cats – actually my daughters cat, Bumble, is ‘on her last legs’.
It’s difficult.
Jacqui will be broken hearted – as will I and the wifey – but when is ‘enough’ enough?
She is drinking water but, as a cat-flu carrier and very ‘snuffly’ she is eating very little and, as a small cat – 2.5K at her max she is probably now under 2K yet seems active and, whilst a wee bit senile – which seems to happen in the days before the end – her quality of life is, whilst not what it was, still viable.
I suspect she’ll do well to keep that viability beyond this coming weekend but it’s hard to know when to call ‘time’.
If any of us truly believed there’s ‘suffering’ we’d do what has to be done – it’s just making that call at the ‘right time’ that is hard.
Shutting out your own emotions to ‘do what’s right’.
We’ll miss her. I’ll miss her.
Good article by the way
Shutting out your emotions is the hardest thing..ever. The right time? How many times do we ask that question before we finally know?
No offense Doc. but the last time I checked pain does come with aging; humans and animals alike. Humans are already slaves to the “no pain at any cost pitch” and ingest enough medication in one year that people in other parts of the globe do in a lifetime. What’s even worse is that many of the side affects are worse than what they are treating while also lowering their threshold for tolerating for pain.
So, I’m interested in Part II just to see what you have in mind on what to do about the natural process of aging and the pain that comes with it.
I agree Johann and was struck by his seeming ambivalence toward the pain that comes with aging. I think I wake up with a new pain every day.