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Recognizing and Alleviating Pain in Aging Pets: IAPVM Pet Pain Awareness Month is September

September 20th, 2024 by Ima Admin

Dr. Laurie Brush of Heaven at Home Pet Hospice Highlights Key Research and Practical Tips for Pet Owners

[GRAND RAPIDS, MI] – In recognition of Pet Pain Awareness Month, established by the International Association for Veterinary Pain Management (IAPVM), Dr. Laurie Brush, DVM and founder of Heaven at Home Pet Hospice, is urging pet owners to recognize the signs of pain in their aging companions and take proactive steps to ensure their comfort.

“Pain is a significant yet often overlooked aspect of our pets’ lives, especially as they age,” says Dr. Brush. “Many pet owners mistakenly believe that slowing down or showing less enthusiasm for play is a natural part of aging, when, in fact, these can be indicators of chronic pain.”

Dr. Brush was one of the first veterinary specialists certified by the International Association for Animal Hospice and Palliative care as a Hospice and Palliative Care Veterinarian (CHPC). She currently serves as a member of the IAAHPC advisory board that advocates for improved quality of life for companion animals through compassionate care.

Recent studies underscore the prevalence of pain in pets, particularly in older animals. Research from the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) reveals that nearly 80% of dogs and cats over the age of eight suffer from some form of arthritis. However, only a fraction of these pets receive adequate pain management, as owners often misinterpret or fail to recognize the signs of discomfort.

Recognizing the Signs of Pain in Pets

Pets cannot verbalize their discomfort, so it’s essential to be vigilant for subtle signs that may indicate pain. Common symptoms include:

  • Changes in Behavior: Increased irritability, reluctance to be touched, or withdrawal from social interaction.
  • Mobility Issues: Difficulty rising, limping, or a reluctance to climb stairs or jump.
  • Altered Eating and Drinking Habits: A decrease in appetite or difficulty chewing.
  • Vocalization: Whining, whimpering, or excessive barking.
  • Restlessness or Inability to Settle: Constant pacing or difficulty finding a comfortable position.

“By observing these signs, pet owners can take the first step toward alleviating their pet’s pain,” Dr. Brush notes. “Early intervention is key to improving quality of life for aging pets.”

Ways to Make Aging Pets More Comfortable

Dr. Brush recommends several strategies to help aging pets live more comfortably:

  1. Veterinary Consultation: Regular check-ups with routine care veterinarians are crucial. A vet can diagnose the underlying cause of pain and prescribe appropriate pain management options, such as medication or physical therapy. 
  2. Weight Management: Keeping pets at a healthy weight reduces strain on joints and muscles, minimizing pain.

     

  3. Comfortable Bedding: Provide orthopedic beds that offer support for aching joints, helping pets rest more comfortably.

     

  4. Low-Impact Exercise: Gentle exercise, such as short walks or swimming, can help maintain mobility without exacerbating pain.

     

  5. Environmental Modifications: Consider ramps or steps to help pets navigate the home, and ensure food and water bowls are easily accessible.

     

  6. Alternative Therapies: Acupuncture, laser therapy, and massage can be effective complementary treatments for managing pain.

Pet Pain Awareness Month is an important reminder that our beloved pets may be suffering in silence.

“Our pets rely on us to advocate for their comfort and well-being. By recognizing the signs of pain and seeking appropriate care, we can ensure that they enjoy their golden years to the fullest.”

For more information on recognizing and managing pet pain, visit PetHospiceVet.com for blog articles and downloads.

About Dr. Laurie Brush, DVM and Heaven at Home Pet Hospice

Dr. Laurie Brush is the founder of Heaven at Home Pet Hospice, a leading provider of compassionate, in-home end-of-life care for pets. With years of experience in veterinary medicine and a deep commitment to the human-animal bond, Dr. Brush and her team offer personalized hospice and palliative care services, helping pets transition with dignity and comfort.

Dr. Brush and members of her team are available for media comment and guest interviews to help promote the awareness of pet pain and new developments in pain management options.

To Schedule an Interview or Appearance Contact:

Kim Hoogerhyde,
Office Manager
Phone: 616.498.1316
Email: khoogerhyde@pethospicevet.com

Pet Pain Awareness Month: Early Intervention for Osteoarthritis

September 3rd, 2024 by Ima Admin

Every September, the International Veterinary Academy of Pain Management (IVAPM) promotes pain awareness to foster best practices in the prevention and treatment of pain in animals. One source of pain that affects millions of pets each year is Osteoarthritis (OA).

One in every 5 dogs will experience OA pain and mobility challenges in their lifetime, according to the American Animal Hospital Association. In cats, some estimates suggest that degenerative joint disease prevails in anywhere from 40 to 90% of cases.

The cascade of arthritic events starts with cartilage damage and loss, followed by the release of inflammatory mediators. OA then progresses to synovial membrane inflammation, then bone remodeling/osteocytes that lead to heightened pain and disability. Read the rest of this entry »

Continuing Bonds – Life After the Rainbow Bridge, Part 1

July 1st, 2024 by Ima Admin

A middle-aged single woman cries every day for a year after her 17-year-old Shih Tzu crosses the rainbow bridge. A young child has night terrors and bedwetting after the loss of his Black Lab. A senior man gives up his favorite hobby of camping off-grid after he says goodbye to his Springer Spaniel, and remains wracked by guilt for not choosing chemotherapy at the end.

What is normal pet loss grief?

“There is no normal. And the trauma can be very real, no matter how peaceful the passing,” says Dr. Laurie Brush, founder of Heaven at Home Pet Hospice.

So how do you turn post-traumatic stress into post-traumatic growth? Read the rest of this entry »

Select Food as Medicine for Canines – Part 2: Balancing Essential Nutrients

June 5th, 2024 by Ima Admin

In part one of this series, we examined research conducted by the Dog Aging Project that shows promise to extend the lifespan and quality of life of our beloved companion animals. Many pet parents are eager for definitive research on what to feed their pets to maintain optimum health.

Evidence is mounting that whole, plant-based diets offer extended “healthspans” thanks to polyamines such as spermidine, which has been shown to improve cellular function. Spermidine’s antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties protect against oxidative DNA damage.

While there has been controversy around the safety of feeding pets plant-based diets, some recent research has shown that dogs fed vegan diets were in ideal body condition, with normal behavior and good skin/coat condition, with no echocardiographic differences between vegan and the control group.

However, concerns have been raised around deficiencies in certain amino acids such as taurine, and vitamins such as B12 (cobalamin) and B9 (folate) when pet parents stray from veterinary-approved, pre-formulated diets. In addition, cases of DCM – dilated cardiomyopathy (enlarged hearts) – from boutique grain-free foods and the taurine connection has never been fully resolved. So how can a pet parent safely incorporate wellness nutrition into their pet’s meal plan? Read the rest of this entry »

Dr. Laurie Brush of Heaven at Home Arrives in Rimini, Italy For The 1st International Conference on Animal Hospice and Palliative Care

May 23rd, 2024 by Ima Admin
Dr. Laurie Brush, founder of Heaven at Home Pet Hospice, is joining her International associates in Rimini, Italy for the 1st International Conference on Animal Hospice and Palliative Care. She is attending as a board member of the International Association for Animal Hospice and Palliative Care (IAAHPC.org).

The Pain Management segment of the conference features keynote topics on everything from frailty in senior pets to helping pet parents know when it’s time. Read the rest of this entry »

Food as Medicine for Canines – Part 1: Slowing Down the Slowing Down

April 1st, 2024 by Ima Admin

What would we give for extra time with our beloved companion animals before they cross the Rainbow Bridge? What if there was a way from maturity onward to expand not only their lifespan, but their “healthspan” too? The concept of aging well, and longer, is a hot topic that’s enjoying a burst of research activity in the human realm. Much of that research applies to animals too. In fact, many of the early findings in longevity are coming from canine research through the Dog Aging Project.

Current longevity research is focused on slowing down what’s known as the mTor signaling pathway, the system that regulates metabolism and promotes growth when we’re young, but then ages us once we’re mature. Read the rest of this entry »

Water Cremation: The Wave of the Future for Eco-Friendly Pet Parents

March 4th, 2024 by Ima Admin

Saying goodbye to a beloved companion animal is one of the hardest things a pet parent faces. Whether the goodbye is a natural occurrence or a peaceful euthanasia, pet parents historically have only had the options of burial or flame cremation.

For pet parents who say their goodbyes at a veterinarian practice, the veterinarian often doubles as undertaker, sending the pet’s body to a crematorium. Flame-based pet cremation has the unfortunate impact of a sizable carbon footprint due to the carbon dioxide the flaming chambers release. For example, a traditional human cremation chamber releases over 535 pounds of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere in a three hour period.

Burial carries its own set of issues from an environmental standpoint, ranging from land use, to water and chemical contamination management.

Water cremation – also known as Aquamation – offers pet owners a futuristic, planet-friendly alternative. Grand Rapids is home to one of approximately 400 worldwide pet aquamation facilities, and that number is on the rise as environmental awareness increases.

“While one pet may not seem to make a difference environmentally, collectively speaking, water cremation can have an enormous impact of reducing emissions in the pet sector. Aquamation is compact, efficient and generates no direct emissions – making it the greenest technology available,” said Dr. Laurie Brush, founder of Heaven at Home Pet Hospice and its sister company, Heaven at Home Water Cremation & Memorials.

Water cremation uses alkaline hydrolysis to mirror nature’s process of decomposition through the combination of gentle water flow, temperature and alkalinity. Just like flame creation, pet parents can choose private water cremation or communal water cremation. Beloved companions are placed in a pod and then encircled in a gentle bath of 95% warm water and a 5% alkaline solution. The alkalized water decomposes all of the body’s proteins and fats, resulting in clean remains. The leftover water, called effluent, is a sterile, nutrient rich, DNA & disease-free water solution that can be returned to the earth.

This service is available directly or through a request to a pet parent’s vet clinic.

After water cremation, the cremains are then returned to the pet parents with their choice of options to memorialize the life of their companion. Options may include paw prints, nose print art, urns, scatter tubes, and/or cremain-infused glass sculptures, touchstones, or jewelry.

“Pet loss grief is very real, and saying goodbye to a beloved companion is difficult,” Dr. Brush said.”Memorializing that bond helps the healing begin.”

The Wiley Nature of Tail Wagging

February 5th, 2024 by Ima Admin

Your wiggle-butt pup wags his or her tail to show they’re happy, right? They’re signaling an incoming treat, scritches, or other joyful events. That’s what most pet parents assume. It turns out there can be much more to the story a tail tells! Researchers from Oregon State, Turin, and Sapienza universities recently published an exhaustive review in Biology Letters that gathers research from more than 100 studies of tail-wagging in dogs. The cumulative findings led the authors to call for a more systematic analysis of this prevalent behavior. They propose gathering videos of dogs exposed to different stimuli with tracking of physiological measurements such as heart rate, heart rate variability, cortisol, oxytocin, serotonin, and testosterone to truly decode the mysteries and meaning of tail wags. Read the rest of this entry »

The Benefits of Librela for Arthritis in Dogs

January 2nd, 2024 by Ima Admin

Arthritis is a debilitating condition that affects senior dogs, causing pain and discomfort that can greatly diminish their quality of life. Fortunately, advancements in veterinary medicine have introduced promising treatments like Librela, a novel medication designed to alleviate arthritis symptoms in dogs.

“In the field of pet hospice and euthanasia, quality of life and the ability to manage pain are key factors that weigh into difficult decisions. Many senior dogs can enjoy an improved quality of life and an extension of their sunset years through treatment with this game-changing class of drugs,” said Dr. Laurie Brush, founder of Heaven at Home Pet Hospice.

Librela is part of a new class of drugs known as disease-modifying osteoarthritis drugs (DMOADs) that target the underlying causes of arthritis, rather than merely masking symptoms. The active ingredient in Librela is known as “arti-antagonist,” which works by inhibiting the production of inflammatory molecules and promoting joint health.

Ways Librela Can Help

  1. Pain Reduction: One of the primary benefits of Librela is its ability to reduce pain associated with arthritis in dogs. A study published in the Journal of Veterinary Medicine found that dogs receiving Librela experienced a significant decrease in pain scores compared to a control group.
  2. Improved Joint Function: Arthritis often leads to decreased mobility and joint stiffness in dogs. Librela has been shown to improve joint movement and agility, allowing them to engage in more physical activities.
  3. Cartilage Protection: Librela helps protect and preserve cartilage in arthritic joints, which is crucial for long-term joint health and mobility.
  4. Reduced Inflammation: Inflammation is a key driver of arthritis pain. Librela works to decrease inflammation in the joints, thus reducing pain and swelling.
  5. Minimal Side Effects: Another significant benefit of Librela is its relatively low incidence of side effects compared to some traditional arthritis medications. Research has reported that adverse reactions to Librela are rare and generally mild.

Librela represents a promising advancement in the reduction of pain, improved joint function, preserved cartilage, and reduced inflammation. If your dog is suffering from arthritis, consult with your veterinarian to discuss the suitability of Librela as part of a comprehensive treatment plan. It may put a new spring in the step of your beloved companion, and extend your time together.

Medical Benefits of Red Light Therapy for Dogs

December 1st, 2023 by Ima Admin

As veterinary medicine continues to evolve, innovative treatments are emerging to enhance the comfort of senior companion animals. One such breakthrough is red light therapy, a non-invasive treatment that has shown promising medical benefits for dogs. Backed by research from reputable veterinarian journals, this therapy is shedding light on new ways to alleviate pain, accelerate healing, and improve overall canine health.

“The initial research is promising,” said Dr. Laurie Brush, founder of Heaven at Home Pet Hospice. Dr. Brush returned recently from the International Association of Animal Hospice and Palliative Care conference, an organization for which she serves as a member of the board of directors. At the conference, hospice veterinarians from across the country studied new ways to manage pain in aging pets.

“Red light therapy, also known as low-level laser therapy (LLLT) or photobiomodulation, has gained recognition for its efficacy in managing various forms of pain in dogs.”
Read the rest of this entry »