Has your dog recently begun to suffer from pain? Maybe they had a recent injury, or perhaps the pain is chronic due to a condition that is getting worse over time. Seeing your dog in pain is very tough and, as a dog parent, you want to be able to do everything possible to make them feel better. Pain can affect your dog’s ability to move around and go about their daily activities. It can also affect their appetite, cause them to sleep a lot, and even affect their mood. So, what can you do to help?
Here we’ll take a look at some basic steps you can take that will help you to better manage your dog’s pain.
Schedule a Visit to the Vet
Rather than make guesses and assumptions about your dog’s pain, it’s important to schedule a vet appointment as soon as you realise there is a problem. The sooner you can schedule that appointment, the sooner your dog can be on its way to feeling better. The vet will be able to do a physical examination looking for signs of acute trauma, or other sources of the pain.
Prescription Medication May be Necessary
Depending on the vet’s findings, your dog may be prescribed prescription medication to help with the pain. Be sure to follow the instructions given, as this will be the best way for your dog to get results.
Does Your Dog Need to Lose Weight?
Sometimes, your dog’s pain isn’t about an injury; instead, there could be other factors at play. If your dog is overweight this can most certainly lead to pain and discomfort, especially if they are older and have also been diagnosed with arthritis. That extra weight adds stress to their joints and muscles, which can start to get very uncomfortable and painful.
If your dog is overweight, it’s time to think about switching up what you feed them and counting the calories you give each day to ensure it’s not too much.
Try Dog-Safe CBD Products
Another option is to look into CBD products that are safe to give to dogs. Just like with humans, CBD products can work to ease pain, and even eliminate it depending on the source. Because CBD is a natural anti-inflammatory, it will work best on pain that has been sparked, or that involves inflammation. A good example can be pain caused by arthritis in dogs.
Provide a Comfortable Calm Environment
The final tip is to give your dog a comfortable and calm environment while it’s in pain. This means a quiet spot in the house where your dog can nap and rest. A nice soft dog bed with some cosy blankets is a great start. Your dog may also want to be left alone until their pain eases or subsides, so make sure to give them their space if that’s what they want.
Watching your dog suffer through pain is not only hard to do, but it’s also unnecessary, as there are a number of effective ways to help minimise what they are going through.
