Small Animal Referral Hospital Pain Clinic

In the pain clinic, we see pets who have persistent/chronic pain or acute pain that is unmanaged. It is important that before you attend our service your pet's referring vet has investigated the possible causes for your pet's pain. When all necessary investigations have been completed your vet can complete a referral form on the website.

Many pets we see in the pain clinic have a complex medical history with difficult-to-manage pain. They are usually referred to us because current interventions have only provided a small part of the relief that had been hoped for.

We will investigate how your pet’s pain is affecting them both physically and mentally. Treatment may include use of specific medications including those licensed for use in humans where no veterinary equivalent exists. This can go a long way to alleviating pain but must be combined with physical and environmental management techniques. More advanced techniques such as targeted delivery of drugs including regional nerve blocks or spinal injection of medication may be employed if required. 

• Mobility limited by pain where surgery isn’t indicated
• Severe pain which is difficult to treat
• Lack of success with pain management
• Struggling with polypharmacy (use of multiple medications)
• Co-morbidities complicating medication
• Need for multi-disciplinary input
• Needing onwards referral but unsure which speciality 

Our department is available for direct physiotherapy, hydrotherapy and pain clinic referrals from primary care vets without the need to see one of our vets first, and if your pet has seen a vet at Langford vets they can be referred internally.

On the first visit your pet will be seen by a veterinary pain consultant and an ACPAT physiotherapist, who will take an in-depth history of your pet’s problems as well as discuss goals you would like to achieve, e.g. going on a 20-minute walk with no signs of pain in your pet during or after the walk.

The patient will then have a physical examination and a gait assessment to help identify areas of pain and the severity. A management/treatment plan will then be generated to achieve the goals. All options will be discussed with you to make informed decisions together. With injury or chronic pain, it can be very difficult to predict the course of recovery and we work together to manage expectations and keep you and your pet’s primary care vet informed at every stage. 

Please allow 90 minutes for the initial appointment and 45 minutes for follow ups.

Pain clinic is rarely a one-off treatment. Several visits will usually be necessary to achieve the best outcome with some patients continuing to need long term physiotherapy.  

• Medication advice - Our RCVS recognised specialists can investigate complex patients with difficult to manage pain. Treatment may include use of specific medications including those licensed for use in humans where no veterinary equivalent exists. More advanced techniques such as targeted delivery of drugs including regional nerve blocks or spinal injection of medication may be employed if required.
• Electrotherapies – there are various forms of electrotherapies that can help with pain management, we most commonly use the K-Laser which has been shown to reduce pain and improve healing
• Soft tissue and myofascial release - mechanical stimulus that causes a cascade of neurophysiological responses within the peripheral and central nervous systems responsible for pain inhibition and improve soft tissue and myofascial mobility
• Range of motion and strengthening exercise - Exercise can positively influence pain levels, specific physiotherapy exercises are often set to address muscle wastage and tightness that is often caused by chronic pain.
• Education – Educating and explaining pain and pain behaviours, as well as lifestyle and environmental factors that influence pain is an essential part of our treatment plans.