$480 Pain Clinic Package

  • Initial consultation with a Southpaws Pain Specialist
  • Tailored pain management plan
  • Guides to helping pet owners recognise signs of pain
  • Two scheduled follow-up consultations
  • Internal consultation with a Southpaws specialist vet (if required)

Meet the anaesthesia team

Understanding Pain in Pets

What Is Pain?

The International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP) defines pain as an unpleasant physical and emotional experience that may or may not be linked to an injury.
Pain is commonly categorised as either acute or chronic. However, we often prefer to refer to it as physiological or pathological/maladaptive pain.

Specifically:

  1. Physiological Pain is a temporary response to injuries, conditions, or threats that cause or have the potential to cause tissue damage. Common examples include burns, minor cuts, or wounds. Physiological pain serves an important purpose—it warns your pet to avoid actions that may worsen the injury. For this reason, it is considered to have a protective function. It usually subsides as the injury heals.
  2. Pathological Pain is a maladaptive condition. It arises when physiological pain persists beyond the healing process. Occasionally, it presents without a clear injury or history of tissue damage. This type of pain results from changes in the nervous system, making pets overly sensitive to pain signals. Unlike acute pain, chronic pain serves no protective purpose and can severely impact your pet’s quality of life.

Why Pain Shouldn’t Be Ignored

Physiological pain typically resolves on its own; however, when it becomes persistent, it can interfere with normal pain processing pathways. This may result in heightened sensitivity to pain (“hyperalgesia”) and the perception of pain from non-painful stimuli (“allodynia”), even in areas not directly affected by the original issue. Over time, this can lead to a vicious cycle where pain perpetuates more pain, adversely affecting your pet’s mood, brain function, and overall well-being, making their experience increasingly overwhelming and distressing. Finally, a stressed brain, depleted of “happy hormones,” further amplifies the sensation of pain.

Common Causes of Pathological Maladaptive Pain in Pets

  • Unaddressed surgical and inflammatory pain
  • Osteoarthritis
  • Myofascial pain
  • Dermatitis and other severe skin conditions
  • Otitis (ear infections)
  • Periodontal disease
  • Feline orofacial pain syndrome
  • Phantom limb pain
  • Nerve damage or avulsion
  • Cancer pain

Why Do We Treat Pain?

  • Quality of Life: Managing pain can significantly improve pets’ quality of life, enabling them to enjoy their favourite activities and participate in daily routines with greater comfort.
  • Physical Health: Effective pain management supports physical health by helping pets stay active, maintain muscle strength, and avoid complications related to inactivity.
  • Emotional Well-Being: Relieving pain reduces stress and anxiety in pets, helping prevent behavioural changes like aggression.
  • Social Interaction: Pain management makes it easier for pets to interact with other animals, family members, and the world around them, fostering stronger bonds and a happier, more balanced life.

Why Do We Need a Veterinary Pain Clinic?

A veterinary pain clinic is essential to ensure pets receive specialised care for managing pain caused by injury, surgery, chronic conditions, or age-related issues.
Since our patients cannot communicate when they are in pain, one of the biggest challenges for pet owners is recognising their pet’s suffering and knowing how to help. Our goal is to raise awareness about pain, debunk common misconceptions, and provide clients with the tools needed to recognise subtle signs and changes so they can effectively advocate for their pets.
Pain can significantly affect a pet’s quality of life, behaviour, and overall health, as well as the bond they share with their family.

The Southpaws Pain Clinic is the first specialty pain clinic offering services in the Melbourne metropolitan area, as well as regional towns and cities. Our team is excited to collaborate with referring veterinarians to help pets thrive.