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Painless ways to
integrate inflammation
management into
your wellness protocol
By Robin Downing, DVM, MS, DBe, DAAPM, DACVSMR
Pets are remarkably good at hiding inflammation and pain until signs
become too obvious to miss. Inflammation may be acute (caused by an
injury, sprain or strain) or chronic (related to common conditions such
as osteoarthritis, atopy or obesity). And since so many conditions can
lead (or contribute) to inflammation, it can be rewarding to integrate
inflammation management into your wellness protocol and help more
patients live normal, active lives. Here are ways to get started.
Make early detection routine
Since inflammation generally leads to pain, detecting inflammation needs to start with a careful
pain assessment in every patient at every examination, including puppy and kitten wellness visits.
By starting early in a pet's life, your team conditions the patient to accept the pain assessment as
just another part of the physical exam. This also allows you to learn what's normal for a patient
so it's easier to recognize abnormal when it occurs.
Focus on prevention
Studies show osteoarthritis (OA) is not inevitable in aging dogs. It turns out dogs who are kept
lean and enjoy consistent activity—so long as there are no traumas or structural abnormalities—
are at low risk for developing OA. Ideally, veterinarians and pet parents work as partners to
prevent inflammation in pets by focusing on two things: Preventing (or reversing) obesity and
keeping the pet active. Consistent, steady exercise is vital, as "weekend warrior" and overuse
activities increase the risk for acute injuries.
