Pain relief for your dog; summer vs. winter

 

Does your dog have pain issues?

Pain relief for dogs can be challenging if you have a dog in pain. You’d like to think that the situation will improve as the weather warms up, but that’s not always the case. Cold, stormy weather generally leads to stiff, sore joints. Those sore joints tend to loosen up in the summertime, so pain caused by stormy weather decreases. However, warmer weather can present its own challenges.

How is summertime pain relief for dogs different than winter issues?

During the winter months, cold weather and barometric pressure can lead to pain issues, especially for dogs with arthritis or other chronic pain issues. However, when the cold weather eases up, along with the pain related to it, dogs tend to get super active. When they feel better, they might be inclined to overdo it, leading to muscle soreness or injuries. While the source of the pain might be different, pain relief for your dog might still be important.

Methods of pain relief for dogs

When your dog is hurting, most dog parents want to help them in any way they can. Pain medicines like Previcox can help reduce pain and inflammation. Another standby, rest, can also allow your dog’s body to heal itself. But what if you don’t want to give medicines if you have an alternative? And sometimes rest isn’t enough all by itself, plus for many dogs, it is hard to enforce. Here are some other ideas that might help your furkid feel better so that they can get back out there and have fun.

• Hydrotherapy, either at a facility intended for the treatment or at the pool or lake. Warm can help ease muscle pain. Coldwater sources can help decrease stress on sore limbs or joints so that your dog can wear off some energy, stay loose, and still provide some rest to the area in question. This post has more info if you’re interested.
• Ice or heat to affected areas can help reduce pain and inflammation. Ice is sometimes good for swollen areas while heat is great at easing muscle pain. Some issues are best by alternating the two. You have to limit how long each is in contact with your dog to prevent skin issues so if you have any questions about how to apply these, you should talk to your vet.
• Cold laser therapy can be a great way to provide pain relief for your dog that has arthritis or sore muscles. Read my post here.
• Massage is great for muscle pain. You can do it yourself whenever your dog needs it. Read more about it here.
• A chiropractor for dogs can help realign bodies that have overdone it and tweaked something. Find out more here.

Summertime is time for fun

Pain relief for your dog can still be important in the summertime, even if the cause of the discomfort is different than it was in the winter. Having a few options in mind for when your dog needs a little help can make the summer a whole lot more enjoyable for your both.

Is pain relief for your dog an issue for you? I’d love to hear about it in the comments below.