All animals, regardless of species or age, experience pain.
Animals feel pain under the same circumstances as people. Anything that would cause pain in a person will cause pain in pets.
Symptoms of pain differ among species.
Cats:
Cats instinctively hide pain. Therefore, signs of pain in cats are usually subtle. A cat in pain may:
Methimazole is used to treat hyperthyroidism in cats. It works by blocking the thyroid gland from making thyroid hormone. The effect is temporary. Most cats with hyperthyroidism require lifelong treatment with methimazole unless other, permanent treatment options are pursued. More details on these options are available on the page entitled Hyperthyroidism in Cats.
More common causes are listed first. Less common causes are listed later.
Insulin is a drug that is used in the treatment of diabetes in dogs and cats. It requires special handling and storage, it must be given by injection, and it carries the risk of overdose. Despite these disadvantages, insulin is the most commonly used drug in the treatment of diabetes. Without insulin, most diabetic cats and dogs will suffer severe or fatal complications of the disease.
Form and Storage of Insulin
Middle-aged and elderly cats.
Hyperthyroidism is a disease of the thyroid gland. Located in the neck, the thyroid gland produces a hormone called thyroid hormone. Although thyroid hormone plays a complex role in the body, its main effect is to increase the rate of metabolism. Hyperthyroidism causes excessive production of thyroid hormone. Therefore, the main problem in hyperthyroid animals is increased metabolism.
Symptoms of hyperthyroidism include:
Heartworm disease affects dogs most frequently. Cats suffer from heartworm disease less often but are still at risk. Heartworms have been found in people in rare cases.
Causes are listed in order from most common to least common. In dogs and cats, ear problems are by far the most common cause of head shaking.
Cats
FIC, FLUTD, and FUS are synonyms for a painful syndrome in cats. FIC is currently the most commonly used name. Its symptoms, listed below, mimic those of bladder infections. FIC is characterized by inflammation of the bladder and urinary tract which can be chronic or recurrent. The urine of these cats often is very strong, and may have an abnormal pH. As well, the syndrome has been correlated with crystals in the urine.
Fleas can infest dogs, cats, rodents, and other mammals. People can be bitten by fleas as well.
Fleas are a parasitic pest of dogs, cats, and other animals. They are blood sucking insects. Minor flea infestations can lead to severe skin and health problems in dogs and cats. Major infestations can be life-threatening.
Male cats
Feline urinary obstruction is a life-threatening medical emergency. It occurs when a plug of mucus or a small stone lodges in the urethra and obstructs it. Strong spasms of the urethra may contribute to the syndrome. Because the urethra is the structure used to drain urine from the bladder, this situation makes urination very difficult or impossible.