Category: Uncategorized

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 2023

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 2023

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 2022

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 […]