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Beyond the Pill

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Long Term Pain Management

[/trx_title][trx_title type=”4″ align=”center” color=”#434544″ weight=”700″ bottom=”mini”]by Dr. Eileen Savier CVA, CVCH[/trx_title][vc_column_text]

Long-term pain management can be a “pain” for both you and your pet.

Imagine this scenario: your pet has a chronic, progressive pain condition such as arthritis. Initially, it is manageable and your dog can still get on and off the couch, plays occasionally, and does not seem worse for wear. You give him his joint supplement and pain medication when he needs it and it seems to help. A few years go by and for the first time, your boy doesn’t follow you up to bed. He starts to prefer to sleep alone (or can he just not get up on the bed anymore). You give him his pain medication more frequently, but you don’t really see an improvement. Fast forward to your pet’s annual physical exam with your veterinarian. You mention to the veterinarian what you have been seeing and the changes in your pet’s behavior and the best recommendation you receive is more medication, more frequently, and for the rest of your pet’s life…

As we know, some pain medications are expensive, cause sedation, or can cause gastrointestinal upset. As a veterinarian and pet owner, I know that this isn’t enough. I want my dog to enjoy life and offer relief from pain (no matter the cause). I don’t want them sedated. I want them to interact with me. I want to see their personality. But, most importantly, I want to KNOW that I am doing the best to control their pain too.

One of the most exciting aspects of my job is that it is always changing and we are seeing advancements in animal care. There are two revolutionary products that are game changing products (in addition to what we already use) and are more specific, safer, and longer lasting that the oral medications/solutions I can currently offer.

Monoclonal antibodies are being used in a wide variety of applications, especially in human medicine. In veterinary medicine, the most common monoclonal antibody is used to treat environmental allergies. This medication has been revolutionary for patients suffering from allergies. We are now working on a monoclonal antibody that would target inflammation! A monoclonal antibody that targets nerve growth factor preventing (or drastically reducing) transmission of the pain signal and prevent more damage to nerves. No pills and no lab work. Just targeted, specific, profound pain relief for approximately one month.

What if we could do better than a month?

What if one intra-articular injection could treat pain for a year?

Synovetin OA is a medical device that utilizes conversion electron therapy to target macrophages in the injected joint. This injections target pro-inflammatory macrophages within a joint to treat inflammation. It is a minimally invasive procedure. No drugs, no systemic or local side effects. Just targeted, specific, profound pain relief for ONE YEAR.

Imagine being about to better control pain from osteoarthritis while at the same time reducing or eliminating the need for oral medications.

Obviously, each of these new treatment options come with their own set of pros/cons that need to be discussed with your veterinarian and weighed for your beloved pup. But the future is exciting in veterinary pain management.

[/vc_column_text][/trx_section][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1533135180690{margin-top: 40px !important;}”][vc_column css=”.vc_custom_1533134942241{background-color: #d9ae4c !important;}”][trx_title type=”2″ align=”left” color=”#f6f2e4″ left=”20″ right=”20″]About Dr. Eileen Savier[/trx_title][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1533135315368{padding-right: 20px !important;padding-bottom: 30px !important;padding-left: 20px !important;}”]Barks & Recreation is proud to feature Dr. Eileen Savier CVA, CVCH as our Veterinary Blogger in our “From the Vet” Series. Currently part of the team of doctors at Keystone Veterinary Clinic, Dr. Savier is a 2012 Graduate of the Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine, She completed her clinical experience at The Ohio State University and after veterinary school she pursued further education and certification in Veterinary Acupuncture, Chinese Herbal Medicine, and Fear Free veterinary visits. Dr. Savier has a special interest in integrative medicine, animal behavior, and internal medicine and is committed to improving animal health care by integrating Eastern and Western philosophies. She enjoys working with fearful & aggressive dogs and cats and she has had additional training in low stress handling techniques and encourages positive reinforcement during exams and procedures. Her clinical interests include pain management, animal behavior, geriatric patient care, and internal medicine. Dr. Savier is a member of the following associations:

• American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA)
• International Veterinary Academy of Pain Management (IVAPM)
• American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP)
• American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior (AVSAB)
• American Association of Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine (AATCVM)
• Ohio Veterinary Medical Association (OVMA)

Dr. Savier shares her home with two (soon to be three) dogs, two cats, and a toddler. She lovingly refers to her two dogs as Coconut Retrievers as they were rescue dogs she brought home from the island of St. Kitts. In her free time she enjoys spending time with her family, going to the beach, and planning her next Disney vacation.

Join us every month for Dr. Savier’s “From the Vet” series to get more information related to the health and welfare of your furry family members![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]