When a dog experiences chronic pain, it can greatly lower their quality of life. Luckily, there are ways to manage this pain and help get your pup moving again. Here, our Crystal Lake veterinarians share the signs of chronic pain in dogs and how treatment such as cold laser therapy can help manage these conditions.
What is chronic pain?
Even with routine care, your dog may experience conditions that lead to lifelong symptoms and chronic pain. If your dog experiences chronic pain then you may notice their behavior shift and they may not be moving around as much as they used to. It is vital to get your pooch diagnosed so treatments and pain relief measures can be taken.
Diagnosing Chronic Pain in Dogs
If you think that chronic pain may be affecting your pup, you will want to schedule a visit with your primary vet to have your dog evaluated and diagnosed.
Your vet may utilize the following pain assessment methods in order to diagnose your dog's condition:
- Veterinary examination
- Physiologic biomarkers
- Objective measurements of gait and movement
- Multifactorial clinical measurement instruments
- Owner assessment of activities of daily living (ADL)
Causes of Chronic Pain in Dogs
Osteoarthritis is the leading cause of chronic pain in dogs, making up approximately 40% of all cases. Some of the contributing factors for osteoarthritis include hereditary and other congenital factors that can affect dogs of all ages and breeds.
Other causes of chronic pain in dogs include:
- Intervertebral disk disease IVDD
- Cancer
- Dental Health Problems
- Trauma / Injuries
Integrative Therapies - How Laser Therapy Can Manage Pain
Veterinary laser therapy is a fairly new method of treatment for symptoms related to various disorders and is most commonly used to help manage pain, inflammation, and wound healing for your pet.
Therapeutic lasers use light waves of a specific wavelength to alter the physiology of the affected tissues. The light emitted by these lasers throughout treatment will help to stimulate the cells within the tissues and allow for faster cellular regeneration.
Speak to your vet if you would like to learn more about how your dog may benefit from veterinary laser therapy.
Note: The advice provided in this post is intended for informational purposes and does not constitute medical advice regarding pets. For an accurate diagnosis of your pet's condition, please make an appointment with your vet.