Ah, that famous line vets hear all too often, “But fluffy never showed any signs of pain.”
Humans are usually obvious when they are in pain and show it well. Wincing and whining, grumpy or irritable, maybe limping or just not able to do what they normally would. Even if they are good at hiding pain, it will show through in someone’s face, or in moments they let their guard down. Dogs and cats, on the other hand, aren’t always so obvious (especially cats with their ‘I can do it all myself’ attitudes); unless it’s already extreme. In many cases they don’t show pain how we would expect them to. Yet, research suggests, they have similar neural pathways for the development and modulation of pain as us — meaning they feel pain in the same way we do.
Subtle Signs
Not only are an animal’s signs of pain or distress typically more subtle (think reduced appetite, reluctance to move or just not being as energetic and excited as usual, generally more tense body, restlessness, sometimes more talkative or chronically flatter ears), but there are a lot of factors that can make it tricky to recognize when something’s off for them.
When animals are stressed (and they most definitely do suffer from stress too), studies showed they may turn down their internal pain responses and not recognize pain as quickly themselves. Leading them to, for example, walk or run on a paw they should be resting more; or vigorously chewing down on food with an inflamed and swollen tooth and gum line — showing little to no signs, causing an aggravation of the problem over time, as the pain isn’t as available to their animal awareness to let them know it’s time to rest that paw, or that some self-nursing is needed, so it can heal up. (Which is why some vets no longer prescribe heavy duty doses of painkillers unless truly necessary, so the pain isn’t masked further.) The effects don’t just stop there though. Just like in humans, stress and chronic pain in animals can weaken their immune system, cause skin conditions, gut-problems, and more.
It’s believed animal stress and injury is more common than we realize; only they don’t get stressed for all the same reasons we do — like looking at a bank account statement we don’t like seeing, or when a car goes by that looks like an ex’s, or after drinking cup after cup of caffeine and scrolling social media until our Nervous System is so overloaded it’s about to blow a fuse.
Their reasons are causes like our absence and separation; especially if they are used to us being around (yes they can get separation anxiety too, heart breaking isn’t it?); or being locked inside a small area alone for too long at a time; loud noises; disruption of routines (notice when you’re packing up a house how your animal reacts?); confusion and memory loss due to aging; or by picking up on our stress — whether conscious or unconscious (which is yet another reason to learn to settle and relax our own nervous system, for our animal’s sake).
Causes of acute injury are more obvious (if we are there to see it happen anyway) and of course the effects of ageing are subtle and gradual; but animal stress and its causes are different. Clearly, there are many factors that could lead us to miss a pet’s subtle pain cues.
So, what to do?
All of this is reason to incorporate Pet Recovery® as maintenance, prevention, and just in case something is going on with our pets that we can’t recognize. (And of course in cases of acute pain like while recovering after injury or surgery.) Then even if we don’t pick up on the subtle signs of pain in our furry (and feathered) friends and family; or if we know something is going on with them but aren’t able to convince our little chihuahua fluffy why it has to stay on the couch and rest its leg; or if we can’t help but leave them alone at times — we know they’re still getting help.
At its core Pet Recovery® is anti-catabolic and promotes healing by providing the body with key ingredients that encourage connective tissue, collagen and bone to heal in a manner more resembling the way a young and healthy animal heals (when it allows itself too anyways). Due to the broad effects of the ingredients, it is not uncommon for pet owners to report that their animals are acting as if they are years younger than their chronological age or recovered from an injury in remarkable time. Playfulness prevails:
Within 2 weeks after starting her on it, I noticed a difference in her, she wanted to do more than just lay around all day…. Thank you for giving me back my healthy active dog that I love so!!!
Spike is the best dog I have ever had, and his quality of life is back to 100%. It is heartwarming to see Spike swimming, running all day and bouncing out of bed like he used to, thanks to Recovery.
Heartwarming, no?
Combine that with the calming of medicinal mushrooms and immune support in our Immune Pet, and you have all angles covered. (Stress also inhibits their immune system, just like it does to ours.) Exercise helps reduce stress too, making it a good excuse for you to take your dog, and yourself, for a good long walk; or play with your cat to get them exercising. And animals love adventures too. (Have you ever seen a dog’s face when it’s time for a car ride or to go for a hike?)
Of course, supplementation is on top of doing anything you can to reduce stress or injury in your animal’s life, which will keep both of you in a lot better health. It’s no secret that having a good animal companion helps our stress level too.
In fact, psychological scientists, in Japan believe ‘cute’ pictures of baby animals have potent effects on attention and concentration, improving our performance in tasks that require careful focus on details afterwards. (There is a noticeable difference between viewing cute baby animals and still sort of cute adult animals. The babies win… Obviously.)
Think of it this way — If your stress is still pretty high now even with your pets in the picture, just imagine where you’d be without them! (Also, may we suggest incorporating regularly medicinal mushrooms yourself along with your animals?)
Unmistakable Recovery
Our pets are our family. And the thought of an innocent animal, who can’t help itself, in pain or distress, is flat out heartbreaking.
Being animal lovers, how could we not offer daily prevention, and Recovery for animals as well? In fact, PURICA started by working in the animal sector, then we decided to help expand to humans too… but animals came first!
They also need help to age well and stay pain free. The more limber, happy and free from discomfort your furry friends and family are, the more joy abound and the greater the stress reduction for all. As any deeply connected animal owner knows — Our pet’s joy is our joy. When they aren’t as buoyant and joyful, as connected and energized, we don’t experience the same comfort and upliftment that our animals so infectiously spread.
Learning to attune to the more subtle changes and signs in our animals, as well as using Pet Recovery®, as a daily aid to well-being and ongoing prevention is both a way to keep them well and a way to help them Recover quicker, and better, from acute and unavoidable injury or surgery. (Plus, we find it to be exciting and emotionally healing for us to see our little friends playing joyous and pain free.)
If you have a furry one in need or an aging animal and want to help them Recover quicker and better from acute and unavoidable injury or surgery; or you simply want to make sure fluffy stays ready for any adventure or potential mishaps — whether that adventure is going for a walk, excitedly jumping into the front seat for a car ride, or going snowboarding (yes it happens) — check out Pet Recovery®. Pet Recovery is how we offer the gift of good health, longevity, and happens to be good for our conscience to know our little ones are taken care of for the long haul.
It’s had an over 20 years run for a reason. See for yourself why.
We hope you find it as exciting and emotionally healing as we do to see our little friends playing joyous and pain free again. Give the gift of a better-quality life.
