Sometimes, the best thing we can do is managing the symptoms and making your pet’s life as comfortable as possible. A pet neurologist might not always be able to offer a complete solution to your pet’s neurological conditions.
Some animals can be diagnosed with incurable health problems and pet owners. Saddened as they may be, pet owners have the opportunity to provide their life-long companions with sufficient help to keep them comfortable, pain-free, and happy for as long as possible.
When a diagnosis bears heavily on you and your pet, you should consider some adjustments at home and with professional help that contribute to a less painful life. Some of these supportive care treatments include specialized diets, specific exercise plans, regular checkups with the veterinarians, and pain management.
Other pets might also require supportive care as they recover from complex health problems. Pets who overcome neurological complications might need additional help to complete activities that were second nature before the accidents.
Rehabilitation is a vital part of a pet’s recovery process. Overcoming vestibular disease requires help from several professionals aiming to safely increasing your pet’s physical activity to reduce risks of joint problems, stiffness, and muscle weakness.
Why Supportive or Palliative Care Matters to a Pet Neurologist
As veterinary specialists, we recognize how important your pet’s welfare is. We are in this profession because we wholeheartedly believe in providing animals with the highest level of care possible. Pets are like family members, and caregivers can do much to offer pet owners treatment alternatives when the outlook is as dire as it can get.
Reducing stress and pain during recovery or the final moments of your pet’s life is essential to any pet owner. As technological and medical advancements allow for longer, happier lives, professional veterinarians look for ways to maintain a good quality of life in the later years of your pet’s life.
Palliative care is not just for terminal patients. Providing a patient with sufficient relief during a severe illness or injury should be a priority for any veterinarian.
Palliative Care Is Not Just Delaying the Inevitable
Compassionate comfort care engages the pet owner, veterinarian, and supporting staff while providing required clinical assessments and tweaking management plans. Responsible caregivers do not aim to prolong stuffing; instead, palliative care serves to prevent additional suffering and prolonging a pet’s happy life as long as possible.
Pet Owners Are Eager to Provide Help to Their Pets
Some professionals in our field might believe that pet owners won’t actively participate in this new stage of their pet’s day-to-day care. Unfortunately, this viewpoint grossly underestimates the strength of the bonds existing between pet owners and their pets.
Technicians and support staff may help pet owners understand how to perform therapy techniques to help their pets. Moist heat or cold therapy is an excellent example as it is easily taught and very useful for pets recovering from some accidents.
Some patients develop chronic wounds that cannot fully heal and require constant attention to prevent additional health complications such as infection. Teaching pet owners to supervise, clean properly, and manage these wounds will improve a pet’s quality of life.
What a Pet Neurologist Recommends as Appropriate Care
This type of care can be as varied as the patients themselves. Many factors are coming into play when considering what specific measures to include in a patient’s palliative care strategy. Veterinarian specialists will meet with pet owners to discuss the expected course of a disease and how it will affect their pets’ quality of life.
Pet owners should take these opportunities to describe their pet’s lifestyle before their health complications. Information relative to a pet’s lifestyle will always help determine a better recovery strategy or supportive care. We know this won’t be easy, but pet owners should define what they wish for their pets as their condition progresses.
Knowing what to expect from the disease will help families properly deal with their pet’s limitations and provide appropriate care.
What You Can Try
Pain Management is a crucial aspect of supportive care. We recommend using various techniques instead of limiting yourself only to medication. Follow professional directions about what medication you should give your dog and which therapies can help address muscular or joint pain.
Some pet owners consider medical acupuncture to reduce the overall pain felt by their pets. Massages can be beneficial when a trained caregiver is in charge of these therapies and teaching pet owners some of the movements to keep their pets comfortable.
You might have to modify some things in your home to make daily activities much easier for your dog. Add nonskid floor surfaces to help your pet if they lose balance due to neurological complications. Consider raising food and water dishes to reduce back pain and minimize risks of spine injuries in larger animals.
Your pet’s mobility might be severely hindered; as such, you could use a vest to assist your dog walking or using your home’s stairs. Carrying larger dogs is not always an option, but using those additional devices can help keep them active.
Finally, try preparing comfortable resting spaces close to where most family members are to let your pet spend as much time as possible close to family if their mobility is compromised.
Get in Touch With a Pet Neurologist for Help
If you suspect your pet to suffer from any neurological condition, make sure to get in contact with a professional team that places your pet’s wellbeing above all else. We will always consult with you about which treatments to include, and together we can help your pet be as comfortable as they deserve.
Set your appointment online or give us a call.
