VPN Plus+ ExclusiveTime to stop horsing around with equine pain managementJune 19, 2025 Many horses are described as grumpy, aggressive, unwilling, lazy, bad-tempered, or ill-mannered, but what if they are none of those things? Equine pain experts say unwanted behavior is often an attempt to communicate the animal is in pain. Failure by owners and veterinarians to recognize pain occurs for several reasons: the propensity of horses to conceal pain; a lack of training for veterinarians in evaluating poor performance or low-grade multi-limb lameness, especially in ridden horses; and denial by owners and trainers who may not want to admit that their horses are aging, injured, or unable to compete in a particular event. "I think one of the biggest challenges for us is equine medicine hasn't really come along as well as small animal medicine, dogs and cats, with regard to recognition of pain as a vital sign and something we should be treating," says Rachel Reed, DVM, DACVAA, associate professor at University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine. "For horses, we're a little bit behind on thinking about managing their pain. It's often an afterthought to whatever they are presented for." Veterinary researchers are seeking improved methods and tools for recognizing and …
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Pain points: Having a crucial conversation with pet ownersMarch 26, 2024The chronic pain of osteoarthritis or other diseases was simply accepted in aging pets. Now that more is known about pain pathways and management, the one sticking point can be talking to clients about it and demonstrating a pet’s slowdown is pain-related, not simply an artifact of aging for which nothing can be done.
Chronic pain in dogs: The gift that keeps on givingAugust 28, 2020Pain in animals is what we (humans) say it is. There is tremendous variability among both patients and observers.
AI technique tracks chronic pain in CavaliersNovember 19, 2019A new artificial intelligence (AI) technique may soon help veterinarians identify Cavalier King Charles Spaniel (CKCS) patients suffering chronic pain due to Chiari-like malformation (CM).
Osteoarthritis staging tool for dogs unveiledJanuary 23, 2019A new standardized method for diagnosing joint disease in dogs is now available.
New ways to think about pet painJuly 24, 2017When veterinarians talk about managing chronic pain, senior pets tend to be the focal point.
How NSAIDs deliver big rewards, but also some riskAugust 17, 2016To pain specialist Alicia M. Karas, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are an incredible tool for managing pain in companion animals but a potential pharmaceutical quagmire that requires veterinarians to tread cautiously.
