How will I know if my cat is in pain?
You may notice your cat limping or avoiding using a paw if it has an acute injury. However, cats are known to be good at hiding their illnesses or pain. You should also look out for increased vocalization, changes in litter box use, increased hiding or reclusiveness, and changes in behavior such as increased aggression or reduced interaction.
Dr. Gretchen Wright
Highland Park Animal Hospital
How will my veterinarian know if my cat is in pain?
When you bring your cat in, we perform a full physical exam where we can identify any soft tissue swellings around joints, sources of pain in the mouth, and any sensitivity in the spine, belly, or tail.
What are some possible conditions that can cause cat pain and what are some pain treatments?
Arthritis is a common condition in older cats that can cause pain. In terms of treatment, we have injections like Solensia that can relieve pain for a month. Dental pain is also common in cats and needs to be diagnosed with a good oral exam. Bladder conditions or constipation can also cause pain, as can chronic cancer in older cats. We have a variety of pain control treatments, including opioids and anti-inflammatories. It is important to use a feline-safe version of these medications, which you can get from your veterinarian.
Is there anything else we should know?
We can help your cats be more comfortable, so please do not give them any human medication like Tylenol or ibuprofen as these are toxic to cats. We have safe medications here and can help you understand where your cat hurts and what we can do to make them more comfortable. Please feel free to give us a call anytime, we're here to help.
If you still have other questions and you'd like to reach out to us, you can call us directly at (214) 833-9821, or you can email us at info@hpanimalhospital.com. But please do reach out, and we'll get back to you as fast as we can. Don't forget to follow us on social media Facebook, Instagram