Quote:
Originally Posted by ladyjane  Sorry, I don't buy that they do not have pain. The specialists I use agree and their focus is on proper pain management. My regular vet is the same.
I think not medicating a dog after surgery is barbaric. Just because they don't carry on people assume they are not in pain. 
I might also add that I have had many, many yorkies of different ages and sizes and never let them go without pain meds..and not one died from being medicated. If dosed properly there is no reason for them to die or suffer any ill effects. |
I do not say animals do not feel pain...but what I have learned is this...the more fear and stressed a dog is, the more pain they suffer...
When a dog understands why they are in a painful situtation they tend to cope 1000 times better then a human.
For example...birthing....I have seen dozens of first time bitches ready to whelp..eyes are wide and full of fear and yelping...they do not understand why they are hurting...then suddenly a pup is born and a light bulb goes on...they settle down, relax and bear the contractions without screams as humans do...a natural pain reliever takes over as they fear abates...
Another example is teeth....I have seen people neglect teeth so much the Yorkies have a facial abcess that drains under the eye...I alert the owner that the animal MUST be seen by the vet asap...vet finds several decayed and abcessed teeth....if it was a human, we could in no way not be hollering in pain and begging for help...but the owner never realized the teeth were bad because the dog continued to eat and act normal...when the abcess appeared on the face they got concerned as to what it was...that is why it is so important to have regualr dental exams...
Of course, dogs feel pain...but some pain is necessary to prevent further injury...when something hurts the dog will lay down and rest...given meds it feels no pain and can do so much more harm...broken legs are a good example...I wanted pain meds for one of mine who broke a leg...vet refused...last thing he wanted was for the dog to feel no discomfort and run on the leg for a few days...
How many have had Yorkies teeth pulled in a dental...if anyone pulled 4 of my teeth, I can 100% promised you I would not come home and respect dinner as ususal..but mine walk n the door from surgery, dental, tests, whatever and since they are back with me, the Pack Leader, they know all is well and they have no fear or stress...and they react normal.
No way I could have walked across the room the day of a surgery I had..Pinkie came home from a spay and ran into the kitchen wanting dinner...then jumped in her bed...I picked her up and touched her stitches gently and told her she had a boo boo and needed rest..she disagreed and continued to run around...so I penned her up for the night...
As with Humans pain is so much worst when we are fearful and worried about the pain...relax, pray, breath deeply and 75% of any pain I have will abate to a managable point...I guess that is why some people take meds for a splinter and others can do through surgery with meds like tylenol...or asprinin...
DO you know when I was growing up in the UK, dentists did not use novacaine for any reason..so my parents would drive 2 hrs to an American dentist who did....THAT IS BARARIC...LOL