Rehabilitation Therapies and Pain Relief for Dogs and Cats in Granger

The Kryder & Harr Veterinary Clinic staff is adamant about pain relief and control, whether it’s a young cat recovering from surgery or an old dog that is suffering from arthritis. No animal should live in pain if we can avoid it.

As pain is stimulated through multiple pathways in the body, we believe in a multi-modal approach to pain control. Surgical patients receive both pre- and post-op pain medications to try to stay ahead of pain rather than chasing it.

After a thorough exam and assessment, an individual treatment plan is made for painful animals. The mainstay of pain control is prescription medications. Anti-inflammatories, either steroids or NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), are often the starting point. Additional pain medications are used as needed to boost the level of pain control. For moderate to severe cases, multiple medications may be needed.

Please remember: Most over-the-counter pain medications for human consumption are toxic and potentially fatal to dogs and cats. Never give your pet human pain medication without speaking to a staff member.

Rehabilitation Therapies for Pets

In addition to pain medications, additional recommendations will be made, including long-term management through adjunctive medications, nutraceuticals, weight management, and rehabilitation therapy. Adequan is an injectable medication often used in conjunction with our other pain medications and helps protect the cartilage in joints. Many animals have had a very positive response to the Adequan injections. Please talk to one of our Kryder & Harr staff members for more information. We also recommend long-term nutraceuticals, including glucosamine/chondroitin and fish oil (omega fatty acids) supplements. When it comes to these products, source and processing matter. Not all products are equal. We can recommend specific products to best suit your pet. Please talk to one of our staff members before using an over-the-counter product.

We offer laser therapy as a drug-free, noninvasive pain management option to help restore your pet’s range of motion and improve their quality of life. With this service, we can utilize cutting-edge technology to reduce pain and inflammation, and promote greater healing. Laser therapy uses light beams at varying wavelengths to penetrate the soft tissue and repair damaged cells. We can treat a wide variety of conditions, including:

  • Cat and dog arthritis
  • Chronic pain
  • Hip dysplasia
  • Acute and chronic otitis
  • Degenerative joint disease
  • Hot spots
  • Inflammation
  • Lick granulomas
  • Gingivitis
  • Intervertebral disc disease
  • …and much more!

Finally, we recommend better living through weight management, diet, exercise, and physical therapy. If your pet is even a few pounds overweight, it can significantly compound painful conditions such as arthritis. Proper nutrition and exercise can help your best friend look and feel his or her best and help prolong life. We will make recommendations to help fit your pet’s healthy living into your lifestyle.

For more information on veterinary rehabilitation and fitness at Kryder & Harr Veterinary Clinic, please visit our pet fitness and rehab page.