Whether your dog is suffering from kidney disease, bone/dental problems, infections, or strained muscles, not knowing what to do brings a great sense of helplessness and grief.
Since several issues could be causing your dog pain, it’s best to know the multiple ways of comforting them and alleviating the pain. So keep reading to learn how to tell when your dog is in pain and how to comfort it.
Table Of Contents
5 Effective Ways To Relieve A Dog in Pain
Pay The Vet A Visit
According to Clarke, M., a health expert, you should visit a vet to confirm what’s wrong with your dog and how to handle the problem. A licensed vet is in the best position to correctly diagnose your dog and recommend a physical therapy plan to ease your dog’s discomfort,
Before making the trip, take note of the behavioral and physical symptoms your dog experiences. Also, monitor and write down critical information, like changes in breathing patterns, signs of chronic pain, the time of the day it exhibits the most symptoms, and any signs of change in the places of the body where they feel pain.
Keep Your Dog Comfortable
Sometimes, all you can do is keep your dog comfortable. For example, that may be the case if your dog is in pain and suffers from a condition that isn’t immediately treatable or that prevents you from visiting the vet right away. In such scenarios, it helps to let your dog lay on either a heating pad or a fuzzy orthopedic bed.
Provide gentle belly pats, soft head rubs, and reassuring name calls to help put your pup in a lighter mood. You can also try these dog-calming methods vetted by the veterinary community to help relax dogs.
Massage Your Dog
A soft and gentle massage can ease your dog’s pain by improving blood flow and facilitating joint mobility. Besides, massaging your pets helps limit pain and reduce swelling of your dog’s skin.
As you massage your dog’s body, fetch its favorite dog treats or toys and speak calmly in a slow and soothing voice. This relaxation treatment helps to raise your dog’s mood and improve its mental state.
But if you’re unsure how to soothe your dog’s condition and are worried about hurting it by massaging it, you should call your vet for help.
Consider Using Canine Pain Medicine
Using pain medication on your dog may be a good idea in moments of excruciating pain. Canine physicians recommend various pain relief and anti-inflammatory drugs to dog owners looking for effective pain management methods.
The FDA lists drugs for physically-troubled dogs, including Deracoxib, Carpofen, Ibuprofen, Firocoxib, Meloxicam, and other reliable pain relievers. These medications help alleviate stiffness, swelling, and discomfort when your dog feels pain. However, check with your dog’s veterinarian before administering any medications.
Take Your Pup Swimming
Swimming is a fantastic, low-intensity treatment suitable for pets suffering from arthritis and other pains in the joints. The water experience is excellent physical therapy and it helps treat pain as your pet swims and uses its strength to float.
How To Comfort A Dog With Arthritis
Arthritis is a chronic cause of pain in canines, especially among senior dogs. One in every five dogs is reported to suffer from bone inflammation and arthritis pain.
Caring for an arthritis-affected dog goes way beyond belly rubs and soothing words. Many people prefer to use traditional nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). But, a better and healthier treatment option might be to use CBD products to reduce pain in dogs.
Research shows that CBD supplements, a hemp and cannabis plant derivative, provide tremendous physical relief and help relieve mild pain. CBD oil products and joint supplements for dogs come in the form of dog treats, chewable oils, infused edibles, and CBD tinctures.
Although, it’s best to consult a veterinarian before administering CBD pain relief to your dog. If you’re interested, here are some of the healthiest dog CBD oil products on the market: https://www.midss.org/nutrition/best-cbd-oil-for-dogs.
Signs That Your Dog is In Pain
Besides an apparent injury, it can be challenging for humans to diagnose when a pet is in pain because dogs (like other predators) instinctively hide their pain to mask any signs of weakness.
To know if your pet is in pain, you’ll need to observe its physical and behavioral signs. Here are a few subtle signs that something’s wrong with your dog:
- Sudden changes in mobility
- Lack of appetite
- Shallow breaths and having trouble breathing.
- Lack of energy and unwillingness to play
- Antisocial behavior.
- Heart rate spikes.
- Dizziness, shaking and being unable to eat food properly.
- Irregular eating, drinking, and sleeping habits changes.
- Arthritis, injury, and joint issues.
- Stomach complications.
Once you notice these pain symptoms, you should book an appointment with your vet to check on your dog as soon as possible.
Final Thoughts On How To Comfort A Dog In Pain
Watching your dog suffer is a painful experience for you and your dog. So if your dog shows any sign of pain or illness, it’s best to go straight to your vet and avoid wasting time.
But if a canine physician isn’t immediately accessible, then you can follow the methods mentioned in this article to comfort a dog in pain.