16355 SW 88th Street
Miami, FL 33196
Monday-Friday: 9:00am-6:00pm; Saturday: 8:30am-2:00pm; Sunday: Closed
When your pet is hurting, it’s hard to know exactly how much or what to do next, since they can’t tell you in words. Whether it’s a subtle limp after playtime, hesitation to jump onto a favorite spot, or quiet whimpers, recognizing and addressing pain early is one of the most important things you can do for your pet.
Dr. Morales and Dr. Fernandez, our husband-and-wife veterinarian team, believe pets deserve thoughtful, individualized pain management. We combine current veterinary protocols with Fear Free handling techniques so your pet feels safe and calm while receiving the most effective treatment for their specific condition.
Pets instinctively hide discomfort, which makes subtle changes the best clue something is wrong.
Watch for decreased activity or reluctance to climb stairs or jump, changes in appetite or sleep, excessive licking or chewing of one area, snapping or aggression when touched, and altered posture or breathing.
Cats often become withdrawn or hide more than usual, groom themselves less, change their litter box habits, vocalize more, or show less interest in play. Thorough pain assessment using behavioral and physical indicators, in line with current veterinary pain management guidelines, is essential for building an effective treatment plan. Call us at (786) 885-1590 if you’ve noticed any of these changes.
Acute pain comes from sudden injury, surgery, or a procedure, typically peaks within the first day, and improves as tissues heal. Chronic pain persists over weeks, months, or years, often from arthritis, cancer, or nerve damage, and needs ongoing medication adjustments, monitoring, and sometimes changes at home.
Effective pain management usually combines several therapies that target different parts of the pain pathway, built around your pet’s medical history and current condition.
Depending on your pet’s needs, treatment may include anti-inflammatory medication for arthritis or post-op recovery, stronger pain medication for moderate to severe pain following surgery, muscle relaxants for musculoskeletal issues, and nerve pain medication for chronic nerve-related discomfort. Fear Free handling is part of every plan too, since reducing stress and anxiety genuinely helps reduce pain perception.
We use standardized pain scoring to track your pet’s progress over time, along with imaging when needed to reveal structural problems, inflammation, or degenerative changes driving chronic discomfort.
We favor preventing pain over reacting to it. For procedures, that means medicating before surgery begins, monitoring continuously throughout, sending you home with clear care instructions and medication, and following up to adjust the plan as your pet heals. This approach reduces stress, supports faster recovery, and often means less total medication over time.
At Your Family Veterinarian, we’re proud to offer:
Pets rarely vocalize pain the way people do, so watch for behavior changes instead. Dogs may show reluctance to jump or climb stairs, limping, licking one area excessively, appetite changes, or aggression when touched. Cats often become withdrawn, groom less, vocalize more, or change litter box habits. Any noticeable shift that lasts more than a day or two is worth a veterinary evaluation.
We use a multimodal approach, combining anti-inflammatory medication, stronger pain medication for more severe cases, muscle relaxants, and nerve pain medication as needed, along with Fear Free handling to reduce the stress that can intensify pain. Every plan is tailored to your pet’s specific condition, age, and health history. Call (786) 885-1590 to discuss options.
No, human pain medications can be dangerous or fatal for pets. Ibuprofen and similar NSAIDs can cause kidney failure and gastrointestinal bleeding in dogs and cats, and acetaminophen is toxic to cats even in small doses. Never give your pet medication meant for humans without direct guidance from us first.
We take a proactive approach, giving pain medication before the procedure begins so your pet doesn’t experience unnecessary discomfort during recovery. Afterward, we provide home care instructions, send medication home when appropriate, and schedule follow-up visits to monitor comfort and adjust the plan as needed.
Yes. Conditions like arthritis, degenerative joint disease, and cancer-related pain can be managed effectively over time, even if complete elimination of pain isn’t always possible. We combine medication, home adjustments like orthopedic bedding or ramps, and regular monitoring so pets with chronic pain can still enjoy active, comfortable lives.
Don’t let your pet suffer in silence when effective relief is available. Call (786) 885-1590 or book online to schedule a pain assessment with Your Family Veterinarian. Our clinic is located at 16355 SW 88th Street, Miami, FL 33196 in the shopping plaza with LA Fitness and Starbucks. We’re open Monday through Friday, 9am–6pm, and Saturday, 8:30am–2pm.
