September is celebrated as the Animal Pain Awareness month by International Veterinary Academy of Pain Management (IVAPM) to coincide with Human medicine’s pain awareness month. IVAPM is an independent body which educates and informs about pet health, awareness and pain management.
In animals, especially dogs and cats, pain can come in many ways; surgical pain, arthritis, skin related disease and cancer, just to name a few. For most pets, old age can be a result of intense physical pain, however, most causes of pain can be prevented if pet owners are aware about their pet’s health and need.
Animal pain awareness is a campaign targeted to inform all the people about how to care best for the animals in their surroundings.
Animal Pain Awareness
- Unlike humans, animals cannot report their feeling or pain, hence, most pet owners remain unaware about the ailing condition of their pets.
- Alike humans, animals account for living organisms in the world who play important role in the cycle of ecosystem.
- Most of the people in the civilized world still remain unaware about animal rights.
- Animal Pain has always remained a nonchalant subject as most societies around the world used to believe that ‘animals lack consciousness.’
- The ailing condition of an animal can sometimes be contagious which can affect animals and humans alike.
How to Encourage Animal Pain Awareness
- By educating the veterinary community to recognize and treat pain in all animal species.
- By recognizing that treating pain in animals requires an interdisciplinary approach.
- By encouraging open communication on topics related to the treatment of pain in animals.
- Supporting standards of care for animals in pain.
- Promoting pain management instruction for all veterinary students.
- Promoting humane, scientific investigation in the field of veterinary pain management.
- There are many options to treat the various causes of pain in animals including pain medications, physical rehabilitation, acupuncture, laser therapy, and therapeutic massage.
To learn more about animal pain awareness, consult with the experienced veterinarian.