Articles

1 July 2026

Hip and elbow dysplasia in dogs

My young dog has been diagnosed with dysplasia. What does this mean for their future? A diagnosis of hip or elbow dysplasia in a young dog can feel like a blow, especially when your dog is otherwise full of energy and may not be showing any obvious signs of pain. It is natural to wonder […]

25 May 2026

Gabapentin and Pregabalin for dogs with chronic pain: what does the evidence say?

If your dog has been prescribed gabapentin or pregabalin for chronic pain, you might be wondering how these drugs work and whether they are the right choice for your dog. We’ve taken a look at what the peer-reviewed science tells us, and where the gaps remain. What are these drugs and how do they work? […]

24 May 2026

Librela for Dogs: What We Know, What We Don’t, and How to Think About It

Librela has become one of the most talked-about developments in veterinary medicine in recent years. For many dogs with arthritis, it has made a real and welcome difference. For others, and their owners, expectations may not have been borne out. As a veterinary pain clinician, I think it is worth setting out what we currently […]

31 August 2025Video

Scentwork Games

Scentwork has been shown to increase optimism in healthy dogs, and is likely to be beneficial mental stimulation for dogs with pain and mobility issues. Professional trainers can be found through Scentwork UK but home games can be easily introduced

13 July 2025

Understanding the Different Types of Pain in Dogs – And How We Treat Them

Just like humans, dogs can experience different types of pain – and each one requires a unique approach to treatment. Whether it’s the result of an injury, chronic condition, or something more complex, understanding the type of pain your dog is experiencing is the first step toward helping them feel better. In this post, we’ll […]

25 May 2025

Why Exercising With Your Dog Is Good for You Both

Pet Pain Relief are pleased to support the Dulverton Fun Run and Canicross Event on 14th September https://visitdulverton.com/events/dulverton-trail-fun-run-canicross/ so, ahead of entries opening on 26th May, we thought it was helpful to recap the benefits of exercise for dogs and their people. Beyond the obvious physical benefits, getting active together strengthens the emotional bond between […]

10 May 2025

Benefits of PRP Therapy for Canine Osteoarthritis and Tendinopathy

At Pet Pain Relief we specialise in advanced, non-surgical therapies for dogs living with chronic pain. Among the most promising regenerative treatments we offer is Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) therapy, used to support healing in conditions like osteoarthritis and tendinopathy. We use the Cell Therapy Sciences PRP system, a veterinary-specific platform that enables sterile, high-quality PRP […]

21 March 2025Video

Introduction to neuropathic pain webinar

16 February 2025

The potential of PEA

Palmitoylethanolamide (PEA) is emerging as an effective solution for managing chronic pain in animals, offering anti-inflammatory and analgesic benefits. It modulates inflammatory pathways, making it a potential alternative to traditional drugs. Individualised treatment plans involving veterinary consultation can enhance pain management for pets suffering from various conditions.

4 December 2024Video

Evaluating Ketamine’s Effectiveness in Treating Canine Pain

Chronic pain treatments for dogs may be limited in effectiveness. Ketamine may serve as an adjunct treatment, but the lack of randomized studies raises questions about its true impact on pain relief compared to placebo and natural regression. Further research is needed to establish its efficacy in managing canine chronic pain.

4 December 2024

Benefits of Musculoskeletal Ultrasound for Dogs

The initial consultation for diagnosing lameness in dogs is crucial for selecting the appropriate imaging modality. A thorough assessment helps identify the best techniques, such as musculoskeletal ultrasound, which is effective for soft tissue injuries. Ultrasound facilitates real-time imaging, aiding in accurate diagnosis and treatment planning, including targeted therapies.

16 October 2024

Why making vet visits ‘no big deal’ is our aim

Vet visits can cause anxiety in both pets and their owners, triggering the release of adrenaline and cortisol. These stress hormones not only prepare animals for fight or flight but can also mask pain, making it harder for us to accurately assess their condition. That’s why at Pet Pain Relief, we prioritise reducing stress during […]

13 January 2024

Neuropathic pain in dogs and cats

Neuropathic pain describes pain arising from any part of the sensory nervous system and can be a complex and difficult-to-treat presentation of pain. Anatomically we can divide sources of neuropathic pain into central (affecting the brain or spinal cord, such as lesions of the thalamus or Chiari malformation / syringomyelia), peripheral (affecting nerve roots and […]

9 April 2023Video

Different types of pain

A seemingly ‘simple’ disease such as arthritis can be associated with multiple sources and types of pain – listen to a brief overview here

3 April 2023Video

Pitfalls in analgesic trials

12 February 2023

Quality of life in chronic pain

Pain is commonly considered a marker of negative welfare, and the importance of  preventing pain in animals is reflected within a number of laws in the UK e.g. the Animal Welfare Act 2006 provides a duty of care on animal owners to prevent or treat pain, suffering, injury, and disease. When we consider welfare we […]

17 November 2022Video

Treatment of femoral neuropathic pain

In some cases of neuropathic pain, steroid treatments can be helpful. Depending on the source of the pain it may be possible to administer long acting injections close to the painful nerve.

18 July 2022

Scents and sensibility

A recently published paper investigated links between depression and olfactory function in people. The researchers found that their data supported the hypothesis that an increase in olfactory function was associated with a decrease in depression severity. Persistent pain can impact on many different domains of life, including mobility, social and feeding behaviour, sleep, and mood. […]

4 July 2022

How do we interpret studies on pain in animals?

This one is a bit technical, and intended for those who are looking at and interpreting primary source papers – just some of the things I try to think about as I read them – do you agree? The expansion of studies evaluating treatment of pain in animals is a significant achievement for veterinary medicine […]

13 June 2022

Thoughts about supplements

Joint supplements are so widely available and heavily advertised that one would be forgiven for thinking their benefits in managing osteoarthritis are undoubted. But, the evidence available is mixed. The most consistent evidence demonstrates improvements in mobility in dogs with ostearthritis treated with marine sourced omega-3 fatty acids. In some studies, the addition of omega-3 […]

11 February 2022Video

Supporting physical rehabilitation with behavioural modification

When managing painful conditions it is important to remain aware of the effects of pain on behaviour and conscious experience. By using pain-relieving medications, physical therapies, and cognitive activities we can reduce the impact of pain on quality of life. We also need to be aware that behaviours can negatively impact chronic pain conditions – […]

29 December 2021

Why does it hurt?

If pain is so unpleasant, why have we not evolved to live without it?

20 June 2016

Getting to the point – acupuncture in dogs and cats

In an earlier post I described how muscle pain can add to, and sometimes drive, the discomfort of osteoarthritis. Acupuncture is one of the tools we can use to address it. It is often misunderstood, so it is worth being clear about what it can and cannot do. Acupuncture has been suggested to help with […]

4 April 2016

Arthritis: where does it hurt?

You might think the answer is obvious. The word arthritis comes from the Greek (arthro-, joint, and -itis, inflammation), so surely the pain comes from the joint. In practice it is rarely that simple. What we have learned about how pain works tells us that joint damage is often only the starting point, and that […]