Here at Cornerstone Animal Hospital, we are here to keep your pets comfortable throughout their entire lives.
Some people don’t think animals feel real pain. We know pain in pets is real and important. For this reason, we will do everything we can to keep your pets comfortable throughout their lives. We will help them through injuries, surgeries, and any other painful time. Also, we are here to help them with any arthritis pain they may have.
Here at Cornerstone Animal Hospital, we are proud to offer many different choices for managing your pet’s pain levels. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are usually our first choice. They are effective, though they sometimes can have side effects. Steroids are often a good choice for pets with pain from a bad back. They have good anti-inflammatory effects, which help with the pain.
However, long-term use of steroids can do more harm than good, so we use them with caution.
Sometimes these medications are not enough. We do have stronger medications, though some of them are controlled substances. This means we have to use some caution when prescribing them. Many pets require several of these medications to keep their pain at manageable levels.
Then there is also arthritis pain, which can be difficult to manage. We start with glucosamine tablets. Some foods also have extra glucosamine in them, which can be really helpful for dogs with arthritis. We also offer injectable glucosamine. The results can be amazing, though many people are hesitant to spend the money, since it is expensive to start.
Blood work is important before starting your pets on any medications. We need to know whether your pet’s kidneys and liver can handle any additional medications. Then, once they have been on the medications for a while, we usually like to see routine blood work to monitor any potential side effects.
Our goal is to keep your pets on as little medication as possible. We also don’t want them to suffer side effects from their medications. However, our first goal is to keep them as comfortable as possible.
If you would like to set up an appointment to discuss your pet’s pain with one of our veterinarians, don’t hesitate to contact us at (417) 623-3080.