‘Paws’-ing Pain

Non-pharmaceutical treatments that can help to manage pain in pets include acupuncture, physical rehab, cold laser and pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) therapy. Here, a dog receives electrical acupuncture. COURTESY PHOTO

Jojo was only 8 years old, but she was acting like an old dog. The Labrador mix didn’t play with her balls anymore, and she could no longer enjoy long walks. She was overweight and had a dry, dull coat.

Her family assumed that her condition was a normal part of canine aging, but fortunately for Jojo, they had just moved, and their dog’s new veterinarian happened to specialize in pain management. After an examination and lab work, Robin Downing, DVM, discovered that Jojo not only had hypothyroidism — which likely contributed to her weight gain and poor coat quality — but also had pain in multiple joints from osteoarthritis. That pain, exacerbated by excess weight putting pressure on her joints, as well as altered body movement from the osteoarthritis, had restricted the once-active dog’s world.

The behavior changes that Jojo’s family interpreted as “slowing down” were occurring because their dog was uncomfortable. And uncomfortable animals naturally limit their activity and movement to accommodate that changed state.

It’s a myth that pain and slowing down are unavoidable parts of aging for dogs. Much can be done to help them have a longer healthspan, which the Dog Aging Project defines as improved quality of life for more of the years of life available. In other words, dogs may not always live longer, but they’ll be healthier during their remaining years.

Downing, a board-certified specialist in veterinary sports medicine and rehabilitation, as well as a diplomate of the American Association of Pain Management, makes a commitment to her patients to help them be as comfortable and functional as they can be for the rest of their lives.

For Jojo, Downing says, “We diagnosed and managed her hypothyroidism. We got her on a good nutrient profile. We managed her pain with a multimodal approach that included nutraceuticals as well as pharmaceuticals.” That all helped to break the chronic pain cycle and help Jojo get comfortable again, contributing to better mobility and helping her to regain and sustain her previous lifestyle.

Jojo’s family also made lifestyle adaptations to help their dog remain pain-free. One such change that can be beneficial for any dog approaching the senior years is retiring them from jumping in and out of a vehicle and providing entry via a ramp or, for smaller dogs, lifting them in and out. Pet steps up to furniture, nonskid throw rugs on slick floors and restricting access to stairs are additional elements of a multimodal pain strategy. Another is providing raised food and water dishes.

“There’s nothing worse for an animal with low back pain to have to reach down to the floor to eat and drink,” Downing says. “Having the top of the dishes at elbow height, whether they’re a Chihuahua or a Saint Bernard or a Maine coon cat, is a great way to help us manage and prevent back pain.”

From being a painful, sedentary dog at age 8, Jojo returned to playing with her toys, chasing her ball and going on miles-long walks with her family. As she grew older, her family, in partnership with Downing, changed some of her more vigorous activities to reduce the risk that she might fall and hurt herself. “There are certain things you shouldn’t do when you’re a 13-year-old dog that you could do when you were a 3-year-old dog,” Downing says.

Without a diagnosis and management of her health problems, Jojo might have lived to be only 9 or 10 years old, but instead she lived to be nearly 16, euthanized after a catastrophic stroke.

“She made it to 16 because we eliminated the barriers to her normal life and lifestyle,” Downing says. ¦

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