What are the symptoms to watch for to see if my elderly dog is in chronic pain. Obviously, limping is one. Growling or snarling at the touch of a tender area is another. But I'm talking more about pain as in arthritis or just achiness. My dog (cocker spaniel) is 15-1/2 years old and has been taking Deramaxx for a few years. I took her off of it and I see that she is doing more panting but it is also much warmer in our house, as it is summer now. Could her panting also be an indication that she is in pain. Should I put her back on Deramaxx?

I'VE NOTICED THAT MOST OF THESE QUESTIONS GO UNANSWERED. IS THERE A REASON FOR THAT? IS THERE A PURPOSE FOR THIS DISCUSSION BOARD IF THERE IS NO PROFESSIONAL AVAILABLE, ON A DAILY BASIS, TO ADDRESS ISSUES BROUGHT TO THE DISCUSSION TABLE?

You definitely should NOT start giving her aspirin or ANY human analgesic for that matter. When your dog is in pain, you just know. Aside from the ojective symptoms, change in mood, apetite, recreation, etc. will decline. Try talking with your vet about your options and they can sit with you and help you make a plan to find out. X-rays will also help to visually see if there are things causing her pain. You don't want to see him/her suffer. More than likely she probably is in pain because you would not have posted this if there was not something making you think that. Also there are alteriors to Deramaxx depending on the severity and cause of the pain.

Thermal imaging could tell if your dog was in pain....it diagnoses referred pain in horses, cats, elephants....I am sure it can help dogs!

Horse Scan

http://www.meditherm.com/assets/Equine.pdf

Elephant scan

http://www.rams-online.com/elephantfoot.html

Technology

http://www.meditherm.com/equine/default.htm

Clinic that offers info and testing certified by ACCT

www.cvdinc.org

ABC Good morning America Promoted Digital Imaging pioneered by Duke University Diane Sawyer on This Mornings Medical Technologies Good Morning America! It can be used on people AND ANIMALS!

ACCT American College of Clinical Thermographers

http://www.thermologyonline.org/