WINNIPEG, Manitoba, Nov. 22, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pets are precious members of their owners’ families. Most pet owners are all too happy to pamper their pets and do so gladly at the drop of a hat. Because pets do not express pain the way humans do, many pet owners are unaware of the pain their pets may be experiencing before and after surgical procedures. Best Friends Animal Hospital in Winnipeg, Manitoba, wants to raise awareness of the needs many pets have for proper pain medications before and after their surgical procedures.
Winnipeg, Manitoba’s Best Friends Animal Hospital is on a mission to raise awareness among pet owners of the importance of pre and post-surgical pain management for pets. Surgeries are painful. Managing the pain early is the best way to help pets avoid experiencing the pain and to assist in the recovery process.
Best Friends Animal Hospital offers one injection pre surgery and one injection post-surgery then sends treated pets home with three to five days of pain medication – depending on the patient. Some patients and procedures may require additional pain management treatments in the form of laser therapy or incisional blocks.
“Proper pain management is important for many reasons,” says Dr. Manjit Sra of Best Friends Animal Hospital. “First, it is much easier to stay ahead of the pain than it is to catch up to it. Another reason is that pets may injure themselves further in reaction to the pain. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, because we don’t want our pets to suffer unnecessarily.”
For dogs, especially, it’s instinctual to hide their pain. In many cases it’s a survival mechanism. That makes it difficult for humans to determine when and if their pets are in pain. Owners who know their dogs well, though, may be able to determine when they are experiencing pain by checking for subtle changes in behavior. These changes may include decreased appetites, uncharacteristic aggressiveness when approached or touched, becoming withdrawn, quiet, or inactive, whimpering and other vocalizations, and a reluctance to engage in activities typically enjoyed by the dog.
Veterinarians may choose to address the pre and post-surgical pain management and medication needs of pets with NSAIDs, opioids, or corticosteroids. Pet owners with questions or concerns about their pets needs for pain management are encouraged to call Best Friends Animal Hospital at 204-269-4451 to learn more.
Located on McGillivray Boulevard in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Best Friends Animal Hospital offers a wide range of health care and pain management services for local pets. The following services are among the many the clinic offers: health screenings, checkups, wellness visits, vaccinations, medical services, laser therapy, nutritional counseling, surgical services, microchipping, behavioral counseling and preventative treatments.