b'Treating Pain Is Good MedicineA Multimodal Pain Management Plan Is Good StrategyBy Anna CookeLike people, each pet willrespond differently to pain.Therefore, each patient shouldbe treated individually andcarefully assessed forany discomfort, especiallyafter undergoing surgery.Thunder, (right) is using theveterinary underwatertreadmill at Steele PainManagement andRehabilitation inPalm Harbor, post-surgery.Peoplewhoreceiveappropriatepain Professionally,Dr.Bairdbecamemanagementafterasurgicalprocedure interested inpainmanagementassherecovermorequicklyandhaveless sought better solutions to the pain prob-complications. Do dogs respond to pain lems she saw on a daily basis. My interestmanagement, post surgery, the same way has grown steadily in the last 10-12 yearspeople do? That would be a resounding as more research has become available toYESthatyouhearfromDr.Elizabeth help us better understand pain manage-BairdofSteelePainManagementand ment in various animal species.RehabilitationinPalmHarbor. Bella, a Corgi Terrier mix loves toVeterinary science supports that all mam- run. Really run. She is a master squirrelmalshavethesameneuro-anatomical chaser,saidLoriLampert,herhuman.structuresthathumansdotoperceive Shes blown out her knees five times in sixpain, and pain medication should not be years. She had surgery to repair her cruci-withheld from them. Plus, uncontrolled ate ligament, but shes just too hard on itpainisassociatedwithanincreased and it didnt hold.productionofstresshormonessuch Rehabilitation was a good option toascortisol,whichcancausemany helpBellamanageherpainandbuildnegativeeffectsinthebody,including strength. Therapy lasted around six weeksslowerwoundhealingandincreased and included adjusting Bellas pain meds.blood pressure. ItwasveryimportanttomeandAllthosemanyyearsago,whenI Dr.BairdthatwecontrolBellaspain,attended veterinary college, pain manage- saidLori.And,Bellathrivedatment wasnt even a subject or even really rehabilitationwithherteamatSteeleacknowledgedasaconcern,saidDr. PainManagement.LoridescribedhowBaird. Even in humans, physical therapy excitedBellawaswhentheyarrivedand rehabilitation were in their infancy.for therapy. 76THE NEW BARKER www.TheNewBarker.com'