Pain from surgery, injury, or disease is usually treated with one or more pain-relieving drugs (analgesics). The choice of drug depends on how bad the pain is, the pet’s overall health, and which drugs work best for that species. For serious injuries, vets often use different types of pain-relieving drugs together.
Decreasing stress and giving good care help pain treatments work better. Housing, diet, and social interaction should fit the individual pet’s needs. For example, dogs that usually play together might get stressed if they have to be separated (such as to allow time for healing after one has surgery), and the stress of separation can make pain worse. Giving your pet extra attention and care can make separation less stressful.
Helping animals in pain and under stress takes a combination of good nursing, nondrug methods (like bandages, ice or heat packs, and physical therapy), and pain medications.
