Dec. 8, 2025

Is My Dog in Pain After Surgery? Yes … and You Can Help! | Tasha McNerney #298

Learn expert pain control tips to help your dog recover faster after surgery. Reduce stress, boost healing, and ensure comfort.

Certified veterinary pain practitioner Tasha McNerney talks about the importance of managing pain in dogs after surgery. She goes over common concerns pet parents have about pain meds, the risks of skipping them, and practical tips for ensuring a smooth recovery. From understanding how pain signals affect the brain to the benefits of preemptive pain control, this episode is packed with actionable advice.

 

Key Topics Covered:

  • Why pain control is crucial for dogs post-surgery
  • The risks of stopping pain medications too early
  • How chronic pain can alter a dog’s behavior
  • Preemptive pain management: Why it matters
  • Recognizing signs of pain in your dog
  • The role of nutrition in recovery
  • Additional therapies like massage, acupuncture, and supplements

Your Voice Matters!

If you have a question for our team, or if you want to share your own hopeful dog cancer story, we want to hear from you! Go to https://www.dogcancer.com/ask to submit your question or story, or call our Listener Line at +1 808-868-3200 to leave a question.

Related Videos:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2w5AyaLqrw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZvA7W9XlciM

Related Links:

Pain management overview article: https://www.dogcancer.com/articles/side-effects/pain-management-for-dogs/

Cerenia article: https://www.dogcancer.com/articles/drugs/cerenia-for-dogs/

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction

01:00 Meet Tasha McNerney

02:15 Acute vs. Chronic Pain

04:00 Why Pain Meds

06:30 Untreated Pain

09:15 Sedation

11:45 Preventing Pain

14:00 Recognizing Pain

16:15 Behavioral Changes

18:45 Dogs with Cancer

20:15 Nutrition’s Healing Role

23:00 Eating Again

24:45 Acupuncture and Massage

25:30 Closing Thoughts and Resources

 

Get to know Tasha McNerney: https://www.dogcancer.com/people/tasha-mcnerney-bs-cvt-cvpp-vts-anesthesia/

For more details, articles, podcast episodes, and quality education, go to the episode page: https://www.dogcancer.com/podcast/

 

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