5. March 2026

Pain in Dogs and Cats

What is pain?

Seems like a silly question; we all know what pain is, right? But the answer is actually pretty interesting. Nociception is the nerves sensing tissue damage and sending that information to the brain. Pain is the negative emotion associated with that information. This is important because in cases of chronic pain especially, distraction and enrichment can actually reduce pain levels and improve overall quality of life!

Acute vs Chronic pain:

Acute pain is sudden and short-term, often associated with injuries or surgeries. Most often, acute pain resolves when the body is given time to recover. Sometimes, though, it turns into chronic pain. Chronic pain is longer-lasting and often quite draining to the one experiencing it. I focus my clinical efforts on helping animals and their humans manage chronic pain.

Most common causes of chronic pain that I see in dogs and cats:

• Arthritis
• Intervertebral disc disease
• Secondary muscle spasms
• Back pain referred from internal organ disease (i.e. dysbiosis)

What are the signs that your pet may be in pain?

• A general ‘slowing down’
• Hesitating to jump onto higher surfaces such as the couch, bed, car etc
• Changes to posture (i.e. arched back, sitting with back legs straight instead of bent, etc.)
• Restlessness or circling before lying down
• Increased vocalization (especially cats at night)
• Becoming aggressive or cranky
• Overgrooming
• Not wanting to be touched or groomed
• Panting when it’s not hot
• Changes in appetite or sleep habits
• Muscle loss
• Changes in toileting (i.e. not making it outside or to the litter box)

What can you do?

The first step is having your pet seen by a veterinarian who can diagnose the location and cause of the pain. This is super important as treatment options and management strategies may vary depending on the underlying cause.

Treatment options may include:

• Supplements targeted to the underlying condition
• Appropriate nutritional support for the condition
• Photobiomodulation therapy (cold laser)
• Targeted Pulsed Electromagnetic Frequency (tPEMF) therapy
• A home exercise plan to strengthen weak muscles
• Massage
• Acupuncture
• Microbiome balancing
• Prescription pain medications
• Weight management
• Environmental Modification

If you are concerned that your dog or cat is in pain, or you KNOW they are, I would love to help you manage their pain from the comfort of home. Click below to email me and get started on the path to more comfort for your pet!