get caught, be painful, put pressure on the nail TREATMENT OPTIONS reduce pain have furry feet, trimming the excess fur may help exercises and controlled exercise surface that is comfortable and easy to move on l Ensure that their nails are kept trim (long nails can beds and even alter your pet's posture) and if they Our aim is to get to the root of the problem and remove pain but for some animals this is not possible and we create a pain management strategy it if need be. Although an immediate and dramatic improvement to your pet's quality of life is the goal, it can sometimes be a process rather than immediate x as every animal is an individual with unique needs. We start with an initial plan, adjust with progress and then assess regularly to optimize results. The following are options for consideration: l Neutraceuticals and herbs to promote general well- being, support Musculo-skeletal function and of a collar when going for walks l Regular massage of tight muscles helps to improve their function and release tension them to get around on some surfaces l For animals with neck pain use a harness instead For more info, www.caninearthritis.co.uk has some wonderful resources. l Optimal nutrition l Therapies such as acupuncture, osteopathy, massage, magnetic therapies, regenerative medicine, homeopathy, NIS and others l Physiotherapy, hydrotherapy, strengthening PAIN & YOUR PET continued dramatically with pain relieving medication, l Medications: Although most pets will improve medications and different combinations. We make adjustments based on their progress. The right strategy depends on the severity of the pain, the needs of your pet, your needs and preferences and which treatment options we consider will give the best result. MONITORING FOR CHANGE different animals respond better to different Changes can be subtle over time and monitoring is invaluable to ensure that there is improvement with a treatment plan as well as identify any deterioration over time. Strategies include: standing – a side view and front view - and when they are lying down – a landscape view from head to tail and tighter movement of circling which can help l Take photos of their posture when they are to identify subtle lameness l Pain Scoring - It can also be helpful to have some way to quantify their pain by giving them a “pain l Take videos of their movement – walking, running moving around easily and eating well then, they would get a 1/10. This can be documented in a eating guarded, panting, restless, etc. then they diary to help monitor trends would score a 10/10 but if they are lethargic, not score” each day i.e. If they are happy and bright,