Veterinary Pain Management

Pain perception in animals is often misunderstood. Unlike humans, animals instinctively conceal signs of pain, making it more challenging to recognize when they are suffering. Unfortunately, these misconceptions can result in pain being underdiagnosed or inadequately treated—especially when an animal is ill, injured, or recovering from surgery.

At Iowa Veterinary Specialties, pain management is a critical component of our patient care. Our veterinary team is trained to recognize both subtle and overt signs of pain, including decreased appetite, hiding, vocalizing, behavioral changes, abnormal posture, guarding, trembling, and inactivity. These indicators guide our clinical assessment and inform our treatment plans.

We believe that all animals deserve to be as comfortable as possible throughout their care. Every patient receives an individualized pain management plan tailored to their specific needs, using a wide range of therapeutic medications and techniques. Surgical patients are pre-medicated to proactively manage pain and anxiety, then maintained on a constant rate infusion (CRI) during and after their procedure. This allows us to fine-tune pain control in real time based on the patient’s response.

Pain management doesn’t end at discharge. We routinely provide take-home medications to ensure your pet continues to recover comfortably at home.

At Iowa Veterinary Specialties, our mission is to deliver exceptional, compassionate care. We are deeply committed to minimizing pain for every patient we treat—from admission through recovery—because your pet’s comfort is our priority.