Different for different people and just as important for animals, pain on a basic state is an inbuilt mechanism of survivial.
On an emotional level pain is an unsettling sensation that leads to distress. This distress could be caused by tissue damage from a sprained ankle. The pain results in not moving which prevents the ankle getting worse . Once the ankle is healed the pain is gone because the biological process that has caused the pain is no longer there.
Not walking on a sprained ankle is sensible and good for survival. However if the pain persisits past the end of the disease course, then the pain is considered CHRONIC.
Chronic pain happens when the pain pathways are constantly stimulated and the neurons are activated below the threshold. This can cause an increase in sensitivity to pain as the signal is increased which can lead to pain wind up (allodynia) or increased intensity of perception to the stimuli. (hyperalgesia)
The perception of pain is the only stage of the pain pathway that we as animal lovers can act on and treat. All drugs that your primary vet may dispense act on the perception of the pain making your pet feel better. While it is easy to put anthropomorphic (human like) views on your pet, it is important to understand the fundamental differences between human and animal pain.
Dogs live in the moment they only consider the task at hand, that walk that ball chucker, running after that rabbit , all of these will cause the same reaction it always has. The difference once experiencing chronic pain is that afterwards there may be limping, sleeping more or being a bit more withdrawn.
The medication that your vet may give for chronic pain soley works on the perception of the pain, and this is where acupuncture comes in. It works to wind down the increased pain signal and can help enormously with these conditions.
To book an appointment call 07896886167 or email hello@drjatravers.co.uk