Urgent Pain Relief for Dogs and Cats in Newfoundland

How Can You Tell if Your Pet Is in Pain?

Dogs and cats often hide discomfort, so the signs of pain may be subtle. Contact a veterinarian if you notice:

• Limping or avoiding one leg
• Difficulty standing, walking, or climbing stairs
• Shaking, trembling, or restlessness
• Crying, whining, whimpering, or unusual vocalization
• Hiding or avoiding interaction
• Aggression or reacting when touched
• Panting when your pet has not been exercising
• A hunched posture or tense abdomen
• Reluctance to move, jump, or lie down
• Reduced appetite or refusal to eat
• Excessive licking of one area
• Sudden changes in sleep, behaviour, or activity

A sudden change in your pet’s normal behavior may be an indication of pain, even when there is no visible injury.

When Is Pet Pain an Emergency?

Seek urgent veterinary care if your pet’s pain is severe, begins suddenly, or is accompanied by:

• Difficulty breathing
• Collapse or extreme weakness
• A swollen or painful abdomen
• Repeated retching without vomiting
• Inability to stand or walk
• Paralysis or dragging one or more legs
• A fall, car accident, bite, or other trauma
• Uncontrolled bleeding
• Straining to urinate with little or no urine
• Continuous crying or obvious distress

If you are unsure how urgent your pet’s symptoms are, text our veterinary team. Describe what you are seeing, when it started, and whether your pet has experienced an injury.

Same-Day Assessment for Pets in Pain

Pain can have many causes, including injuries, inflammation, infections, abdominal problems, urinary conditions, and complications following a procedure.

During your pet’s visit, the veterinarian will perform a physical examination and ask about:

• When the symptoms began
• Changes in movement or behavior
• Recent injuries or medical procedures
• Your pet’s current medications
• Changes in eating, drinking, urination, or bowel movements

Depending on the examination findings, diagnostic testing may be recommended to help identify the source of the pain and determine the appropriate treatment.

Personalized Pain Management for Dogs and Cats

Pain relief should be based on the individual pet, the cause of the discomfort, and their medical history. Our veterinarians develop a treatment plan suited to your pet’s condition and immediate needs.

Treatment options may include:

• Medications selected for your pet’s condition
• Pain control following an injury or trauma
• Post-surgical pain management
• Supportive care and monitoring
• A combination of pain-management approaches
• Home-care and activity instructions
• Follow-up recommendations for your family veterinarian

Before beginning treatment, the veterinarian will explain the available options, their purpose, and what to monitor after your pet goes home.

Do Not Give Your Pet Human Pain Medication

Never give your dog or cat human pain relievers unless a veterinarian has specifically instructed you to do so. Common medications such as ibuprofen, acetaminophen, naproxen, and aspirin can be dangerous or toxic to pets.

If your pet has already swallowed human medication, contact a veterinary team immediately. Bring the medication container or a photo of the label if possible.

Ongoing Care for Chronic Pain

Our urgent care team focuses on assessing sudden pain and addressing immediate discomfort. If your pet has an ongoing condition, such as arthritis or another chronic illness, we can communicate our findings and treatment information to your family veterinarian.

This helps your regular veterinary team develop or adjust a longer-term pain management plan when needed.