The vast majority of people view their dogs as members of their families. Therefore, it can be difficult when you see your dog in pain. Fortunately, with a comprehensive pain management plan, you can give your dog the best quality of life possible. If you think your dog is in pain, the first thing you should do is visit a veterinarian who specializes in pet pain management Perrysburg. Then, talk to your veterinarian about what you have been noticing. That way, he or she can help you develop a detailed pain management treatment plan. Learn more about a few elements of a dog pain management plan below!

Control Your Dog’s Weight

One of the most important animal care solutions for a dog dealing with chronic pain is weight control. There are a lot of dogs who deal with chronic discomfort because they are overweight. If your dog is carrying excess weight, this places a significant amount of stress on his or her bones, joints, ligaments, and tendons. Therefore, you need to remove as much stress from your dog’s musculoskeletal system as possible. One of the ways you can do that is to make sure you control your dog’s weight. This is done through diet and exercise.

Make Sure Your Dog Gets Plenty of Exercise

Your dog may not look like he or she wants to move; however, exercise is an important part of pain management for dogs. For example, your dog may be in chronic pain due to arthritis. Arthritis gets worse when dogs do not exercise very often because their joints can get stiff. To prevent this from happening, make sure your dog goes on walks every day. Even though you need to make sure you do not push your dog too hard, regular exercise is important for pain management. Furthermore, exercise releases endorphins, which make people and animals happy.

Eat a Healthy Diet

Your dog could also eat a healthy diet. If your dog is experiencing chronic pain due to joint problems, there are dog food options that contain chondroitin and glucosamine. These are two very important supplements that can help protect the musculoskeletal system of your dog. Furthermore, you should also target a diet that contains plenty of antioxidants. Antioxidants scavenge free radicals throughout the body, which can prevent inflammation from developing. If you can control information, you can prevent further damage to your dog’s musculoskeletal system, which is critical for pain management.

Medications Can Be Helpful

Finally, there are some situations are dogs may benefit from medications. Pain medications come in many shapes and forms, and most veterinarians are going to start low and go slow. This means the doctor is going to start with anti-inflammatory medications, such as Tylenol and Motrin for dogs, before progressing to something stronger. Opioid and narcotic medications can be addictive, which is why most veterinarians are only going to use these medications if they are absolutely necessary. If you have questions about pain medications for your dog, you should talk to a veterinary professional today.

Contact Perrysburg Animal Hospital Today

If you believe your dog is in pain, you need to reach out to a trained veterinary professional today. At Perrysburg Animal Hospital, we offer a variety of services, including dog pain management. We also provide dog training Perrysburg as well as a dog day care Perrysburg. We know that you want to give your dog the best life possible, and we are here to help you make that happen. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you take care of your dog!