September: Pain Awareness Month
September is Pain Awareness Month. Animals experience pain and discomfort just as people do. While it is obvious that a pet who is limping is experiencing pain, often the signs of pain are much more subtle. These signs may include restlessness; gait changes or shifting weight; decreased mobility, activity or play; panting or rapid breathing; difficulty getting up or down; difficulty with stairs; inability to jump; vocalization; behavior changes (aggression, clinginess, attention-seeking, hiding, withdrawal from the family); decreased appetite; excessive licking, chewing or mutilation of a particular area of their body; lack of grooming; change in body posture (hunched, not curled up when sleeping, stiff, neck stretched out); or a change in housetraining or litter box habits. Many of these signs are incorrectly attributed to ‘old age’.
Chronic pain may be due to osteoarthritis, cancer pain, or pain associated with any of the internal organs. Osteoarthritis is the most common type of chronic pain. Managing chronic pain requires a multimodal approach. A multimodal approach uses a combination of medications, supplements, nutrition and other therapies together to achieve pain control while reducing risks of potential adverse effects. Considerations may include the type or source of pain, efficacy of therapy, concurrent medical conditions, safety, route of administration, frequency of administration, cost and the ability to administer the therapy and/or travel for care. We work with you to develop the best treatment plan for you and your loved one.
Pain Management Therapy
Nutrition
Nutrition is especially important for pain associated with osteoarthritis. Maintaining a lean body mass and a good body condition score are essential in alleviating musculoskeletal pain. We will work with you to determine a safe and manageable weight loss plan for your pet if needed.
Hill’s j/d Joint Care contains therapeutic levels of omega-3 fatty acids and is enriched with glucosamine, chondroitan sulfate, L-carnitine, and antioxidants. It is also restricted in calories to maintain your pet’s proper body weight. It is available for both dogs and cats. Other options include Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Mobility Support Canine or Feline, Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets JM Joint Mobility Canine, and Hill’s Prescription Diet Metabolic + Mobility Canine. At this time, no prescription diets exist for birds or small mammals.
Exercise
Exercise can be very beneficial for managing pain, but should be carefully tailored to the individual patient. Light walking, physical rehabilitation exercises, foraging activities, and swimming or other types of aquatic exercise may be recommended. Exercise will improve joint health, help maintain good body condition, and provide environmental enrichment for your pet.
Joint Supplements
1) Omega-3 Fatty Acids: Omega 3 fatty acids include eicosapentanoic acid (EPA) and docosahexanoic acid (DHA). These ingredients reduce the production of inflammatory prostaglandins. Omega-3 fatty acids are recommended for the management of osteoarthritis/joint pain as well as kidney disease, cardiovascular disease, and skin conditions. Side effects are rare, but may include vomiting, diarrhea, or appetite loss; at high doses, clotting abnormalities can occur.
We recommend Welactin for dogs and cats. However, over-the-counter formulations of fish oils may also be used for dogs. If you choose an over-the-counter brand, it is very important to avoid products that contain added ingredients such as essential oils or Vitamins A, D, or E.
2) Dasuquin: This supplement contains glucosamine hydrochloride, chondroitan sulfate, and avocado/soybean unsaponifiables (ASU). This supplement helps to support joint cartilage matrix, inhibit cartilage breakdown, and support joint comfort. The ASU has natural analgesic properties to help manage pain. Side effects are rare but may include vomiting or diarrhea.
3) Adequan: Adequan is a polysulfated glycosaminoglycan (PSGAG) derived from bovine cartilage. It inhibits the catabolic enzymes that degrade the components of cartilage, inhibits the inflammatory mediator prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), and may help stimulate the synthesis of protein, collagen, and hyaluronic acid, the protective compounds within the joints. It is administered by injection every 1-4 weeks either at home or in the clinic.
4) Duralactin: This supplement contains MicroLactin, a natural milk protein that manages inflammation. It inhibits neutrophil participation, thereby decreasing inflammation. It is available as a capsule for cats and chewable tablets for dogs. There is limited data on this supplement, but it may be worth considering in advanced cases.
Pain Medications
1) NSAIDs: Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or NSAIDs reduce pain, inflammation, and fever by reducing the inflammatory mediators cyclooxygenase, phospholipase A2, and prostaglandins. This class of medication will likely provide the best pain relief for your pet. Examples include Rimadyl, Novox, or Metacam.
Most pets tolerate these medications well, but there is the potential for side effects in any individual. The most common side effects are associated with the gastrointestinal tract (vomiting, diarrhea, gastrointestinal ulceration), kidneys, and liver. Cats are more sensitive and these medications should be used with extreme caution. Birds and small mammals tolerate Metacam well. Blood monitoring should be performed on all pets receiving these medications long term. Do not use these medications with other NSAIDs or with glucocorticoids/steroid medications.
2) Galliprant: Galliprant (grapiprant) is the newest anti-inflammatory medication on the market. While it is an NSAID, it was developed to specifically target the prostglandin EP4 receptor, reducing inflammation in the joints with minimal actions on the other prostaglandin receptors in the body. This allows us to specifically manage joint pain and inflammation while significantly reducing the gastrointestinal, kidney, and liver side effects.
Side effects may include vomiting, diarrhea, decreased appetite and lethargy. For severe pain, we have not found this to be as effective as other NSAIDs. Blood monitoring should still be performed with long-term use. This medication is only for use in dogs. Do not use this medication concurrently with other NSAIDs or with glucocorticoids/steroid medications.
3) Gabapentin: Gabapentin is a pain medication that is especially beneficial for neuropathic pain. Gabapentin is an analog of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and acts on the calcium channels of the spinal cord to inhibit the release of excitatory transmitters. It reduces hyperalgesia (exaggerated responses to pain). Side effects may include sedation and difficulty walking, though these side effects generally improve after 3-5 days on this medication. We commonly use this medication in dogs, cats, birds, and small mammals.
4) Tramadol: Tramadol is a synthetic centrally acting opiate-like analgesic that also inhibits the reuptake of serotonin and norepinephrine to provide pain management. This medication appears to be beneficial in only a subset of patients; it may not be effective in certain individuals. Side effects are rare, but may include sedation, agitation, anxiety, tremors, dizziness, lack of appetite, vomiting, or diarrhea. It is a bitter medication and can be difficult to administer to some pets.
5) Opioids: Opioid pain medications work at the level of the opioid receptors located in the brain and spinal cord. Examples of opioid pain medications include buprenorphine, morphine, fentanyl, codeine, hydrocodone, and butorphanol. Side effects may include sedation, vomiting, constipation, dysphoria, hallucinations, and cardiac or respiratory effects. With the exception of buprenorphine in cats and small mammals, these medications are rarely used for chronic pain.
6) Miscellaneous: Depending on your pet’s condition, a few other medications may be discussed. Amantadine is an NMDA receptor antagonist used for neuropathic pain. In severe cases, intravenous ketamine or other continuous rate infusions (CRI) may be used in the hospital. Tricyclic antidepressants, bisphosphonates, lidocaine patches and maropitant may rarely be used in select conditions.
Integrative Therapies
It has become more common to see pet owners choosing non-pharmacological options for pain management before adding in drug therapy. These treatment modalities can be excellent for managing chronic pain. For additional information, please request our handouts on acupuncture, laser therapy, and massage therapy.
1) Acupuncture: Acupuncture has been practiced in China in both humans and animals for thousands of years. It involves the insertion of small, thin, sterile needles into specific points in the body to cause a therapeutic change to occur. These points are called acupoints. Over thousands of years, we have created a map of 359 transpositional acupoints and 77 classical acupoints in humans and animals; we routinely use 173 acupoints in veterinary medicine. Research shows that these points are located in areas with a high density of free nerve endings, mast cells/immune cells, small blood vessels, and lymphatic vessels. Stimulation of these points leads to a cascade of changes in the body including an increase in blood flow to the area, an increase in local immune response, and release of beta-endorphins, serotonin, and other neurotransmitters to reduce pain. In addition to dry needling with thin needles, electroacupuncture, aquapuncture, acupressure, hemoacupuncture, and moxibustion may also be used at these specific points.
2) Chinese Herbal Therapy: Herbal therapy is another branch of Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine (TCVM). The choice of herbal therapy depends on the patient’s disease condition and TCVM pattern; we cannot prescribe herbal therapy without a consultation with a TCVM practitioner.
Many options for therapy exist depending on the patient. Body Sore is a great example of a balanced herbal therapy for pain management in dogs and cats. From a TCVM approach, this formula resolves Qi and Blood Stagnation and alleviates generalized pain, lameness or stiffness. Its active ingredients include Ligusticum, Notopterygium, Angelica, Epimedium, Cyathula, Cuscuta, Corydalis, Paeonia, Eucommia, Psoralea, Myrrh, Olibanum, Millettia, Persica, and Carthamus. Side effects may include vomiting, diarrhea, or lack of appetite. It is important to inform your veterinarian of all of the herbal therapies or supplements that you are giving to your pet as some therapies can have adverse effects together. If you have any questions about Chinese herbal therapy for your pet, please contact Jennifer Blair, DVM, CVA, CVFT, CTPEP.
3) Laser Therapy: Laser therapy uses specific wavelengths of light to induce a therapeutic effect in the body. In general, laser therapy is used to reduce pain, reduce inflammation, and increase healing in an area. Laser therapy increases circulation, leading to increased oxygen and nutrient delivery. This creates an optimum environment for healing including a reduction in pain, stiffness, muscle fatigue, swelling, and inflammation. Laser therapy is a great modality to alleviate pain in birds and small mammals as well.
4) Massage Therapy: Massage therapy is beneficial, especially for aging animals. The aging process can lead to circulation issues that may affect efficiency of movement. Concurrent arthritis or other painful conditions can cause muscle tension, stiffness, and discomfort. There are many benefits to massage therapy including increased circulation, improved range of motion, decreased muscle tension, improvement in pain, reduction of inflammation, reduced anxiety and increased activity level. If you have any questions about massage therapy for your pet, please contact Christine Capistrant, CVT, CMT, our Certified Canine Massage Therapist.
5) Assisi Loop/PEMF: The Assisi Loop is targeted Pulsed Electromagnetic Field Therapy (PEMF) that can be used at home to reduce pain and inflammation at a focal site. Pulsed electromagnetic field therapy affects the voltage-dependent binding of calcium to calmodulin. When binding occurs, nitric oxide, an anti-inflammatory molecule, is produced. Nitric oxide reduces pain, improves blood flow, and reduces edema. This cascade further triggers additional positive effects such as new blood vessel formation, tissue regeneration, and tissue remodeling.
6) Chiropractic: Animal chiropractic care is a gentle and kind way to achieve pain reduction. When the body isn’t moving as much as it used to, the brain’s perception of pain becomes amplified. When the brain senses motion, the perception of pain is down-regulated. Restoring even the smallest amount of motion, like the type that occurs along the spinal column, can provide a measure of comfort and pain relief. To learn more about chiropractic care for your pet, please contact Chiropractic for EveryBody: http://chiropracticforeverybody.com or call 952-484-5460.
7) Physical Rehabilitation: There are several excellent rehabilitation centers in the Twin Cities. We generally refer our patients to John Nielsen, CVT-VTS, CVPP, CCRP at the Animal Emergency & Referral Center in Oakdale. Therapy may include aquatic therapy, underwater treadmill, physical manipulation, and rehabilitation exercises. In addition, we can discuss specific modifications to your pet’s environment to help with mobility and to ease pain and discomfort.
As you can see, we now have many tools available to help manage chronic pain in pets. For some patients, one or two of these therapies are sufficient. For others, we’re using nearly all of these modalities. If your pet is experiencing chronic pain, contact us today at (651) 645-2808 or group@stfrancisabh.com. We’ll work with you to develop a plan that is best for both you and your loved one.
September Pain Awareness Month Promotion
For each unit of Dasuquin or Welactin purchased during the month of September, you will be entered into a drawing for a LiT Cooler courtesy of Nutramax.
Employee Spotlight: Sabrina Reed, CVT
Each month, we will spotlight one of our team members in order of years of service at St. Francis Animal Hospital.
Sabrina joined St. Francis Animal Hospital in March 2013 after earning her Associate of Applied Science Degree in Veterinary Technology from Globe University. She is a Certified Veterinary Technician. In addition to her technician duties, she has been a Fear Free Certified Professional since December 2017 and currently serves as our Director of Behavioral Services. She is also our Radiology Safety Officer (RSO) and manages our health certificates.
Sabrina’s main professional interests are in animal behavior and training. She works closely with our doctors to improve the veterinary experience for our patients as well as to help to improve the relationships between our pets and their families.
She currently shares her home with her husband; Brian; her two sons; and her two dogs, Gabriel and Tucker. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her oversized extended family, crafting, and training her bully breed dog, Gabriel, who struggles with generalized anxiety.
Why do you love being a veterinary technician?
I have been around animals for as long as I can remember but my true passion for them came with my exposure to the gruesome world of dog fighting at a young age. Because of this experience, I have dedicated my life to being an advocate for bully breeds and against breed specific legislation. This has also sprouted my passion for animal behavior by trying to understand commonly misunderstood breeds.
As a veterinary technician I feel that I have the ability to make a difference improving the lives of our patients by educating about animal behavior and by helping to understand what our pets are feeling and trying to tell us. Furthermore, I enjoy teaching their human counterparts how to more effectively communicate with their animals.
Why do you love working at St. Francis Animal Hospital?
St. Francis Animal Hospital has given me the opportunity to develop and implement a behavioral program into our daily practice. Our goal is to always improve our patients’ visits at the hospital by practicing fear free techniques. We are consistently striving to make the experience better for our patients which then extends to improving the experience for our clients by taking as much stress as possible out of their visits.
Thank you, Sabrina, for all of your years of service at St Francis!
Practicing Fear-Free Techniques
Have you ever felt anxious about going to the doctor? Have you ever dreaded public speaking or been afraid to get on an airplane? Our pets can experience fear and anxiety as well, and sometimes that centers around visiting their veterinarian. Thanks to Sabrina Reed, CVT, Director of Behavioral Services, we continue to expand our Fear-Free program at St Francis to prevent and alleviate fear, anxiety and stress in pets that visit our practice.
1) Pre-Visit Pharmaceuticals: We may prescribe medications for your pet to be taken prior to his or her visit to the clinic. These medications help reduce fear and anxiety. Examples may include gabapentin or trazodone.
2) Mats: We provide mats for all of our patients to stand on to prevent slipping on the table or floor.
3) Towels: We may use towels to hold cats or small dogs who are nervous. These towels are sprayed with either Feliway (cats) or Adaptil (dogs), calming pheromones to help your pet feel less anxious. We use towels for birds and small mammals as well.
4) Music: We have music playing in the exam room during your visit. This music is especially designed to reduce anxiety.
5) Treats: If you have an anxious pet, you may want to consider fasting on the morning of his or her visit. If he or she has a favorite treat, bring it with you. Otherwise, we may offer hard or soft treats, Kong Peanut Butter Easy Treat, Easy Cheese, or baby food during our exam and procedures. In the treatment room, we use lick mats attached to the wall to distract pets for blood draws or nail trims.
6) Procedures: We switch needles after drawing up a vaccine or medication. We always use new needles and use the smallest needles possible for our vaccines, injectable medications and blood draws.
7) Privacy: We try to bring pets into exam rooms quickly upon arrival to eliminate a crowded lobby. Check outs are done in the exam rooms so pets don’t have to stare at other animals while waiting to go home. For nervous pets that need hospitalization, we provide a hide box or cover their space with a blanket to provide privacy.
8) Training: We may recommend happy visits, muzzle training, or other training sessions or training tools specific to your pet.
If you have any questions about our fear-free techniques at St Francis, please reach out to Sabrina Reed, CVT at (651) 645-2808. We want your pet to love coming to St Francis!
News Briefs
Welcome Aimee and Gabbie!
Please welcome Gabbie Robbins and Aimee Johnson to St Francis as our new veterinary assistants. Gabbie is a student at the U of M College of Veterinary Medicine earning her dual DVM/PhD degrees with a focus on oncology research. Aimee has many years of experience in the veterinary industry, is fear-free certified, and is a Certified Small Animal Massage Practitioner. Please give them a warm welcome!
New Client Policy
To continue to provide exceptional care for our current patients, we are not accepting new clients at this time. Are you already a client of St. Francis Animal Hospital? We will be accepting new patients from existing or former clients. If you’ve added a new loved one to your home, we would love to meet him or her! Please continue to visit our website for updated information.
Tentative: October 4th-5th
We are hoping to redo the entrance to St Francis this fall, creating a larger sidewalk and ramp. This project will require us to close the clinic for 1-2 days. We are tentatively looking at October 4th and 5th for these dates and should have confirmation soon. If you have an appointment already scheduled, we will contact you to reschedule if needed. Please stay tuned for updates on our Facebook page or our website.