Instead, we have to watch out for signs of discomfort, such as:
- Whining
- Trembling
- Loss of appetite
- Rapid breathing
- Limping
- Lethargy
- Behavior changes
- Decreased grooming (in cats)
If your pet is showing these symptoms, bring them in to see our team at Northside Paws Veterinary Care. Dr. Frank will spend time getting to know your furry family member—if she isn’t already one of their best friends from a previous appointment!
Using our in-house diagnostic tools, she and the Northside Paws Veterinary Care team will work to understand the underlying reason for your pet’s pain. Together, we’ll build a pain management plan tailored to your dog or cat’s needs.
Therapeutic Pain Management
Dr. Frank offers therapeutic massage, therapeutic exercise, and other rehabilitative therapies to help manage your pet’s pain.
Therapeutic Massage:
Many pets find massage therapy just as relaxing and beneficial as you probably do. Dr. Frank is trained in veterinary massage techniques designed to help alleviate your pet’s muscle and joint pain, including:
- Effleurage: promotes blood circulation and lymphatic drainage
- Petrissage: relieves muscle tension, spasms, and knots
- Skin rolling: helps relax your pet and increase blood circulation
- Concussive strokes: increases blood and lymph circulation
Research suggests that massage therapy can significantly decrease your pet’s pain and improve their quality of life. If you think your pet could benefit from therapeutic massage, reach out to us to learn more.
Therapeutic Exercise and Rehabilitative Therapies
Physical therapy can help humans regain lost skills and manage pain, and it can provide similar benefits for dogs and cats. Whether your pet is healing from a fracture or living with chronic arthritis, exercise and rehabilitative techniques can help. These therapies focus on building:
- Strength
- Balance and proprioception
- Endurance
- Flexibility
- Mobility
Our veterinary team understands that these exercises might feel strange to your pet. We’ll make each session fun, using plenty of rewards and cuddles to help motivate your furry family member.
Supplements and Pain Medication
The veterinary team at Northside Paws Veterinary Care can prescribe pain medication and supplements to help manage short-term or chronic pain. Our in-house pharmacy is stocked with the most commonly prescribed medications, making it easy for your pet to get much-needed relief.
Therapeutic Laser Therapy
Therapeutic laser therapy is a painless procedure that uses specific, targeted light waves to help activate cell repair. It’s been shown to help speed up healing times, reduce pain, and lessen inflammation in dogs and cats.
This safe and effective therapy is especially helpful for cats because there aren’t many pain medication options for our feline friends. It can also help dogs that can’t take pain medications due to liver disease or organ damage.
Pain Management for Every Pet
When your pet is in pain, Dr. Frank and the team at Northside Paws Veterinary Care are here to help. Our team often combines various pain management techniques to give your pet the best possible chance at relief. Call us at (317) 735-3870 to start your pet’s pain management journey today.