Animal Pain Awareness Month

Updated: September 17, 2024

The month of September is known to be Animal Pain Awareness Month. It is a month intended to educate and raise awareness regarding discomfort in animals. 

As a pet parent, it is important to understand how pain can affect your furbaby. Animal Pain Awareness Month aims to help people better understand pet pains, allowing pet parents to provide better pain management and improved quality of life.

"There's no better way to know if your dog is experiencing something painful than to bring your pet to the vet for a check-up."

Animal Pain Awareness Month

The International Veterinary Academy of Pain Management (IVAPM) educates pet parents about the importance of their pet’s overall health when it comes to pain management, may it be acute or chronic pain. 

Pain has many forms, and can vary from one pet to another. There are many causes to pain - it can be from surgical pain, gut problems, arthritis, cancer-related pain, anxiety, and more. Despite the cause, pain is very stressful for pets and their pet parents - and that's exactly why Animal Pain Awareness Month is important! 

How to Get Involved for Animal Pain Awareness Month

Discuss. Communicating with others is a great way to spread the word and raise awareness. Exchanging experiences and knowledge with family, friends, even strangers about your own episodes of struggles and triumph on your pet's pain management can go a long way.

Pain experiences are different for each pet. It's a great idea to share your experiences, and listen to other's, within your community. You could learn some new ideas, or even help someone else who is currently coping with a similar issue! 

Go see your vet. There's no better way to know if your dog is experiencing something pain than to bring your pet to the vet for a check-up. A trip to the vet will help give you a proper diagnosis and proper treatment plan for any health issues and concerns your fur-baby may be having.

Regular vet check-ups are also one of the best things you can offer your fur-baby. Regular visits to the vet can help detect any early symptoms of diseases and illness that may bring pain to your pet. 

Pain-proofing your pet

Keep a close eye. Observe your pet's behavior along with any physical abnormalities like limping, shaking, inflammation, whimpering, etc. Keep an eye out for any of these symptoms, and seek medical attention immediately if symptoms are present. If you notice your furbaby in pain, it's best to bring them to the vet immediately for a proper diagnosis and treatment plan.

Prevention is better than cure. As a pet parent, you can help your fur-baby avoid certain kinds of pain like joint pain, oral pain by maintaining your dog's weight and dental hygiene.

Nutrition is key. Providing your furbaby with a healthy diet, jam-packed with essential nutrients, will help the body function well. A balanced diet is important for your furbaby because he needs proper nutrition to run, jump, play and snuggle effectively. Without good nutrition, your fur-baby is more prone to diseases and pain!

Supplement. Providing supplements can help boost your furbaby's immune system.

SoftSupps® are supplements for dogs made from a high-quality mix of healthy, powerful ingredients, specifically designed to be results-driven & optimal for your furbaby’s health.

  • Allergy: Helps your furbaby say goodbye to different seasonal and skin allergies
  • Skin & Coat: Helps promote healthy skin & coat for your fur-baby.
  • Calming: Helps keep your furbaby calm & relaxed during stressful situations like traveling, loud noises, and other instances that may trigger anxiousness
  • Probiotic: Helps support proper digestion and nutrient absorption for a healthy gut
  • Turmeric & Curcumin: Helps sustain a healthy inflammatory response & promote joint & immune health
  • Hip & Joint: Helps support mobility & strength for your dog
  • Multifunctional: Helps provide your fur-baby with powerful daily health support for skin & coat health, hip & joint support, immune, heart & intestinal function) for all ages.

If you have cats, talk to your vet about recommended cat supplements.

Signs of Pain to Look For

These are some signs of pain to look for in your furbaby:

  • Lessened social interactions with family members at home and with other pets 
  • Reduced activities
  • Signs of stress and anxiety 
  • Sudden change of behavior (your pet may suddenly become agressive or submissive)
  • Decrease or loss of appetite
  • Loss of interest in things they enjoy
  • Inappropriate peeing or pooping 
  • Lethargy
  • Excessive licking or chewing 
  • Whining 
  • Howling 

Why Animal Pain Awareness Month is Important

It reminds pet parents to pay attention to subtle changes they may observe in their pets. Pets cannot communicate to you in words to tell you what they are feeling. You know your pet well. It’s important that you are able to notice even the slightest changes as these may be early signs of illnesses and diseases. 

Proper pain management helps reduce greater risks. By giving your furbaby proper management for pain, it can save them from an acute illness or from other life-long issues. 

It emphasizes the need for a trusted veterinarian. Sure, there are a lot of veterinarians in your local community but what you need is a great one. Your veterinarian will be your right-hand in managing your pet’s pain and it’s important that the two of you are able to build a good relationship. 

Animal Pain Awareness Month is a month to help us, pet parents, be aware of our pets' pain and help them overcome whatever it is that's making them uncomfortable and uneasy, for a healthier and happier life.

The author

MICKA V.

Author Bio

Micka Virtudazo is a full-time content creator at Pet Parents® who lives with thirteen adorable American Bullies and a Shih Tzu-Maltese mix named Gretel. She especially enjoys writing how-to articles as she feels through this she can connect to other pet parents on a more personal level.

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