A pain control consultation is a dedicated in-home visit focused entirely on identifying, measuring, and managing your cat’s pain. Cats are masters at hiding discomfort — by the time most guardians notice something is wrong, their cat has been in pain for days or weeks. Our veterinarians have pursued advanced training in both pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic pain management to help your cat live more comfortably.
Though we always address any pain that is noted on physical exam, even when we have been called just to administer vaccines or to check a nonpainful ailment, we are also available to come specifically for a Pain Control Consultation.
Our doctors are driven by the desire to eliminate pain in our pets! We have pursued additional training and continuing education in the latest pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic pain control methods. Chronic pain from arthritis, neurologic disease, muscular conditions or cancer can – and should – be controlled.
We can help characterize and quantify the pain your cat is experiencing and teach you how to monitor for improvements or worsening of that pain. We use various pain scales to try – as best as veterinary medicine can offer for a nonverbal species – to help you track our treatment progress.
Signs of Pain in Cats
Unlike dogs, cats rarely vocalize when they are in pain. Instead, they show subtle behavioral changes that are easy to miss:
- Decreased activity — Sleeping more, reluctance to jump up to favorite perches, less interest in play
- Changes in grooming — Over-grooming a painful area, or neglecting grooming entirely
- Hiding — Withdrawing to unusual locations, avoiding family interaction
- Appetite changes — Eating less, approaching the food bowl but walking away
- Litter box issues — Avoiding the litter box (especially if it requires stepping over a high edge), changes in posture while urinating or defecating
- Facial expression changes — Squinting, flattened ears, tension in the muzzle (the “Feline Grimace Scale” is a validated tool for assessing pain in cats)
- Behavioral changes — Unusual aggression when touched, flinching, reluctance to be picked up
- Posture changes — Hunched posture, tucked abdomen, reluctance to stretch
If you notice any of these signs, a pain control consultation can help determine the cause and develop a management plan.
Some of the modalities we are very experienced with include: Medications (like Solensia injections, buprenorphine, and occasionally NSAIDs), Supplements (herbal, nutraceutical, other), Laser therapy, Acupuncture, Hot and cold therapy, Therapeutic exercise/stretching/massage and other rehabilitation techniques.
Our Approach to Pain Management
Every pain control consultation begins with a thorough in-home examination and a detailed conversation about what you have been observing. We can then use validated pain assessment tools to characterize and quantify your cat’s pain level, giving us a baseline to measure treatment progress against.
Our approach is multimodal — meaning we often combine several therapies for the best result:
- Medications — Both prescription pain medications and anti-inflammatory drugs, carefully selected for feline-safe options
- Supplements — Joint supplements, omega fatty acids, and other nutraceuticals that support comfort
- Acupuncture — Particularly effective for chronic pain conditions like arthritis and back pain. Learn more on our Acupuncture & Laser Therapy page.
- Laser therapy — Cold laser treatment to reduce inflammation and promote tissue healing
- Rehabilitation exercises — Gentle stretching, range-of-motion exercises, and massage techniques we can teach you to do at home. See our Rehabilitation Services page.
- Environmental modifications — Recommendations for heated beds, step stools to favorite perches, low-entry litter boxes, and other home adjustments
We will teach you how to monitor your cat’s pain at home and adjust the plan as needed.
All pain treatment recommendations are made in the context of your cat’s overall health and other medical conditions that need to be considered. Also, we are very sensitive to the fact that what one cat might allow, another might not. Often, creative solutions exist for difficult-to-medicate cats, and we are highly motivated to help caregivers implement a plan that is realistic and effective for their particular feline companion.
Common Conditions We Treat
- Arthritis / degenerative joint disease — The most common source of chronic pain in senior cats
- Neurologic pain — Intervertebral disk disease, nerve compression, neuropathy
- Cancer-related pain — Comfort management for cats with tumors or undergoing treatment
- Post-surgical pain — Recovery support after procedures performed at a clinic
- Muscular pain — Strains, tension, or chronic muscular conditions
- Oral pain — Dental disease is extremely common in cats and often goes undetected