Pain and inflammation can give rise to a range of different signs which vary according to the severity of the underlying cause and the parts of the body affected:
General discomfort or distress is often evident by changes in mood, demeanour or behaviour.
A previously placid dog for example, may become irritable, reactive or aggressive.
A friendly, highly sociable pet may seek solitude instead or avoid interacting with human and animal companions as they normally would.
Restlessness, such as pacing, repeatedly moving from one place to the next, constantly shifting position, difficulty settling down to sleep, especially at night are all common signs of pain. Panting and shallow breathing at rest may also be seen.
In essence, any uncharacteristic behaviour can indicate something is amiss and needs looking at if it persists for any length of time, even in the absence of any overt signs of ill-health.
The same is true of excessive vocalising such as whimpering, howling, barking and growling, all of which can be an expression of discomfort within.
Loss of appetite, particularly if this continues for any length of time without any apparent cause, can also indicate persistent inflammation or pain.
Physical signs can point to where in the body a problem lies.
Limping, stiffness, hunching of the back, reduced mobility, altered gait and postural changes for example, frequently indicate the location of musculoskeletal issues.
For gut issues, attempts to relieve the discomfort felt can result in stretching out, adopting the praying position with the front end down and bottom in the air or curling up tightly in a ball. Eating grass or indigestible substances such as wood, mud or soil may be seen.
Dental, oral or TMJ issues can give rise to eating disorders, including uncharacteristic reactions to food or feeding bowls.
Self-trauma, such as chewing at easily accessible parts of the front or hindlegs can be a sign of sore joints, or a displacement activity for discomfort felt elsewhere.
Blood tests can often be useful both in identifying inflammation and monitoring the impact of any measures taken.
In summary, a comprehensive approach is necessary to confirm or eliminate pain and / or inflammation as a cause of noise sensitivity and behavioural issues. This should always include a thorough, head to tail physical examination, followed up by appropriate investigations based on the findings. Once a specific diagnosis has been made, natural and nutritional support can be highly beneficial at aiding a return to full health.
A Natural Pain Relief Trial
PEA, a natural anti-inflammatory and analgesic produced by the body has proven to be highly effective at reducing pain intensity in clinical trials in both humans and animals.
As such, it can be added to the diet to help determine if pain and inflammation are a factor in any psychological, physical or behavioural issues present.
If an improvement is seen over the course of 8 - 12 weeks, this suggests discomfort of some kind or another is the cause or a contributory factor in the signs of distress or ill-health seen, and that it would be beneficial to continue with Vince the Vet PEA.
One example of how PEA provides pain relief while at the same time reducing inflammation to promote healing, is demonstrated in a clinical study involving 4 show jumping horses with chronic lameness, who had previously been treated with NSAID's and physical therapy, including corrective shoeing without any success.
After 16 weeks supplementation with PEA all 4 horses returned to competition without any recurrence of the lameness showing that PEA does not simply mask pain, but also supports the body's natural healing mechanisms.
And the wonderful thing is, there are no side-effects because palmitoylethanolamide is produced naturally in the body in response to pain, inflammation and stress, and so is part of normal canine physiology. This is also the case for humans and other animals who experience similar benefits.
NOTE:
If there's any possibility that the diet may not be supplying all essential micronutrients, giving Vitality is beneficial not only for it's anti-inflammatory properties, but also because it aids tissue regeneration and repair.
For more information on this topic and links to a number of scientific studies, head over to PEA's product page.