Your Dog's Pain Diary
Yasmin Porritt • January 11, 2024
A Blueprint For Monitoring A Pain Trial
Months in the making, well years in fact when I look back to when I first became totally obsessed with pain management!
95% of the dogs I work with come to see me for pain management reasons, so I wanted to make something that can become part of the team. Being diagnosed with a chronic condition doesn't mean your dog's life has to come to a standstill, there is SO much we can be doing to support them.
What does a chronic condition mean?
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95% of the dogs I work with come to see me for pain management reasons, so I wanted to make something that can become part of the team. Being diagnosed with a chronic condition doesn't mean your dog's life has to come to a standstill, there is SO much we can be doing to support them.
What does a chronic condition mean?
This can be broadly defined as a condition that requires ongoing treatment and management. Specifically this can be attributed to conditions in our dogs such as,
- Elbow Dysplasia
- Luxating Patella
- Cruciate Disease
- Osteoarthritis
- Intervertebral Disc Disease (IVDD)
When managing a chronic condition, we are managing chronic pain. Even when your dog has corrective surgery, this is just the beginning of a new journey and will still need management long term to protect the results of the surgery.
How can Your Dog’s Pain Diary help?
When I wrote this book I thought of common situations where I have asked Pet Parents to keep a log of what was going on with their dog.
- A recent diagnosis
- Post operative recovery
- Starting a new therapeutic intervention
- Starting a new pain medication
- Following a change in pain medication dosage
Each of these instances and many more can impact a pain management plan. I have structured this book to help create a blueprint that you can keep referring back to as a point of reference.
What does Your Dog’s Pain Diary include?
- How to make the most of your Vet appointments
- Basic anatomy and Veterinary terminology
- Types of pain
- Building a team around your dog
- 6 week diary
And much more! Peppered with extra things to help you along the way, plus a whole heap of Pet Parent empowerment. I’m a big believer that the more pain knowledge we can absorb, we can then make informed decisions about our dogs pain management.
If you’re ready to,
BE YOUR DOG’S CHAMPION
This book is for you! Don't forget my free eBook Ooh That's The Spot
which also has lots of information to support you and your dog.
This episode of Hop, Skip and a Jump I had the absolute pleasure of catching up with Helen from Roots to Rehab. I first met Helen about a year ago at my seminar, You Can’t Train Away Pain, and right away I knew she was someone who “gets it” – the kind of therapist who puts an animal’s needs first, every single time. Helen runs a mobile underwater treadmill business. Yes, you read that right — a fully kitted-out van with a German-imported treadmill, filters, UV sterilisation, and a whole lot of heart. What struck me most about Helen’s work is her flexibility. If a dog is nervous, she doesn’t force the “rulebook” approach. Measurements can wait; muzzles aren’t used unless absolutely necessary, and if a harness causes discomfort, she’ll adapt. For Helen, each session belongs to the dog — not her, not the pet parent — and she works at their pace. We swapped stories about our favourite kinds of cases. For Helen, it’s the “tough nuts” — the dogs who arrive anxious, defensive, or flat-out refusing to participate. Slowly, through trust and patience, she wins them over. I completely relate. In pain management, a huge part of the job is listening to what the animal is telling you — not just through behaviour, but through tiny changes in posture, gait, and body language. We also talked about one of my favourite geeky topics: why water temperature matters. Cold water tightens muscles and can increase discomfort, whereas warm water relaxes, improves circulation, and sets the body up for healing. We both see too many people promoting cold-water swims for dogs without mentioning the risks — from “swimmer’s tail” to flare-ups in canine arthritis. One of Helen’s most inspiring stories was about “Dotty”, a Dachshund with grade-five IVDD who started completely paralysed in her hind limbs. Through months of tailored hydro sessions — starting with an isolation plate to work just the back legs — Dotty is now walking again in the treadmill, albeit with a slightly wobbly “drunk gait”. That resilience is why I love working with animals; they don’t dwell on what’s been lost, they focus on what’s possible. Consistency was another theme. Whether it’s weekly sessions for spinal cases or gradually moving to maintenance visits every 6–8 weeks, regularity makes all the difference. Sporadic therapy rarely produces lasting change — but when owners commit, the results can be life-changing. The conversation reminded me why I love doing what I do. It’s not just about the hands-on work — it’s about adapting, problem-solving, and giving each dog the dignity of choice in their care. Helen’s van might be mobile, but her ethos is rock-solid: meet the dog where they’re at, and build from there. Catch the full podcast episode below,
In this episode of Hop, Skip, and a Jump, I had the absolute pleasure of sitting down with the incredible Rachel Bean — a registered veterinary nurse, canine first aid educator, and someone who’s shaping standards in the pet care industry. I’ve known of Rachel’s work for a long time, but hearing her story firsthand was inspiring. She started out back in 1994 as a Dogs Trust kennel manager, later training as a veterinary nurse and qualifying in 2001. Even now, she still works in practice, balancing her clinical days with her passion for teaching canine first aid. What began as a few voluntary sessions for RSPCA staff has grown into an Ofqual-recognised qualification — a huge achievement in an industry that, let’s be honest, is largely unregulated. Anyone can call themselves a first aid instructor, but without real knowledge and hands-on experience, the wrong information can be dangerous. Rachel is determined to change that by ensuring the training is accurate and evidence-based, especially for pet professionals like groomers, trainers, and behaviourists. Her work doesn’t stop at the UK border. She’s travelled to Thailand to work with street dogs, to India and Cyprus to support shelters, to Beijing to train local dog trainers, and to Kenya where she worked with Action for Cheetahs. In Kenya, she helped handlers look after detection dogs trained to track cheetah scat for conservation research — a fascinating project that shows just how far her skills can go. One of the most valuable parts of our conversation was Rachel’s update on current heat stroke guidelines. Too often, I still see outdated advice being shared online. Heat stroke is life-threatening, but it’s usually preceded by heat stress — and that’s when we have the best chance to act. CURRENT HEAT STROKE ADVICE WET THEN VET – If you’re near a vet, start cooling the dog immediately, then get there with air conditioning blasting. RAPID COOLING SAVES LIVES – If you’re further away, immerse (not submerge) the dog in the coldest water you have, then transport. Tepid water is not effective enough. For elderly dogs, puppies, or those with serious health conditions, avoid full immersion — wet them thoroughly and use fans or AC instead. Rachel also spoke about cooling coats. They can be brilliant in the right situation, but shouldn’t be used as a free pass to exercise dogs in dangerous temperatures. As someone who works with dogs every day, I know just how differently each one handles heat. Some, like brachycephalic breeds, are more vulnerable, but even the healthiest dog can make poor decisions — like lying in full sun for hours. This chat with Rachel reminded me why I’m so passionate about sharing good, practical information. When accurate knowledge gets out there, it saves lives — not just here in the UK, but all over the world. Check out the full episode below and Rachel Bean RVN's socials FB- https://www.facebook.com/RachelBeanVetNurse/?locale=en_GB Insta- https://www.instagram.com/rachelbeanrvn/?hl=en Website- https://www.vet-on-set.co.uk/
Before we dive into this wound healing protocol, I think it is only right we find out who these tootsies belong to, meet Dorian. Dorian enjoyed an active sporting life, but sadly, following undiagnosed OCD and two failed orthopaedic implants, he had to have his LHL amputated. Dorian’s pain management is complex given his history and current pathology, so he is monitored closely. His current management involves regular massage, Photizo, analgesia, homoeopathy and lifestyle management. Dorian still lives a full, active life and when a sore appeared on his LFL digit we created a bespoke healing plan.
To cut a long story short, YES people will listen. The picture above was my first cohort of CANINE PAIN WARRIORS! You Can't Train Away Pain, is my exclusive in-person full-day seminar, and we dive into some pretty heavy topics. 🐩 Canine Anatomy, looking at whole body systems and how they can influence the pain experience. 🐾 Common MSK conditions, understanding these pathologies through X-ray images and more. 🐕 Identifying gait abnormalities, getting to grips with the biomechanics of the canine. ⚡ Mechanics of pain, from sensory input to processing in the CNS, how a pain experience occurs. 🐕🦺 Behaviour & Pain, an in-depth look at the biopsychosocial model and how we can apply this to dogs. 📚 Case studies, group work to cement the day's learning. This course lasts 5 hours and builds attendees from the ground up to understand the complex tapestry of the canine pain experience. To get through this day and present sound case studies at the end had me dubbing attendees as WARRIORS. I hope to inspire passion and curiosity, because our dog's and the ones we work with deserve the best. Here is a list of Canine businesses that are YPT Certified Canine Pain Warriors Confident Canine Coaching Academy Hurley's Grooming Salon and Training Academy Focus Dog Training The Bearded Pooch Roots to Rehab Wild Paw Dog Training Holistic Hounds and Other Animals Lead The Way Wirral The Underdogs Training Dames and Dukes Dog Grooming S erenity Canine Therapies Big Paws Little Paws Grooming Salon Rebecca The Dog Trainer Nourish & Nosh Holistic Pet Shop Rudi's Canine Coaching Scentsational Dogs Deborahs Dogs The Travelling Trainer If you would like to attend this exclusive in-person seminar, keep an eye on the events page for upcoming dates.
I'm a Yorkshire lass through and through. A spade is a spade. Pain is pain. A bargain is a bargain! I'm SUPER careful about the brands that I will associate myself with, I have a responsibility to pet parents who interact with Yorkshire Pooches Therapies. I want to ensure that what you invest in is cost-effective, actually effective, and tested with my own dogs. Below are links to companies who I have discount codes for, some of these I receive kickback and others I don't. I can assure you I'm not buying my second home in Portugal, it 100% goes towards my dogs haha! Aniforte discount code - YSPOOCHES10 Aniforte has a great range of natural supplements, some of my favourites being German Moor Mud , Green-Lipped Lipped Mussel Powder and Algae Oil . Get yourself a cheeky 10% off Antinol discount code - YPT5 I can confidently say this is the best green-lipped mussel extract on the market, with clinical studies too! Treat your pooch to 5% off for a starter pack or one-off purchase. Oh so precious discount code - YP10 I am so sentimental so of course I fell in love with this range of pet keepsakes, teat yourself to 10% off. Happy shopping, Love Yaz, Lily, Rodney & Peggy xx
Charlotte is a Veterinary Physiotherapist at Raybrook Veterinary Physiotherapy specialising in canine rehabilitation with a keen interest in holistic care. Charlotte focuses on providing a consent based approach to her work, with remedial exercise programmes tailored to each individual dog. Charlotte works in partnership with Yorkshire Pooches Therapies as the resident Online Veterinary Physiotherapist to bring together a multi-modal team of canine professionals. Having experience and knowledge of orthopaedic, neurological and soft tissue cases, Charlotte has brought together her knowledge and expertise to help better musculoskeletal health and improve quality of life. Dogs of all shapes, sizes, breeds, ages, capabilities and temperaments are all welcomed with the same enthusiasm and dedication when planning individual exercise programmes. Charlotte prides herself on delivering a thorough assessment to ensure all dogs receive care specific to their needs, ensuring the best outcome for your dog. Learning is a continual and important skill as a Veterinary Physiotherapist, alongside her postgraduate qualification in Veterinary Physiotherapy, Charlotte has continued her study of: - Joint supplements - Kinesiology taping - Stem Cells - Natural and fresh feeding - Canine Conditioning - Force Free training and Practices - Canine Behaviour - Current and Ethical Pharmaceuticals Charlotte is a member of the National Association of Veterinary Physiotherapists and fully insured. This ensures that services provided are of the highest standard and are in accordance with current legislation. Charlotte has a dog of her own, a rescue Samoyed named Kiba. Kiba’s own rehabilitation process fuelled her passion for physiotherapy and patient centred care. Charlotte is a strong believer in age not being a disease and has a soft spot for her golden oldies. Are you an in clinic YPT customer, click here to book in with the wonderful Charlotte!
Fish is well known for its health properties, and it is full of wonderful Omega fatty acids that can support an abundance of different body systems. These Poly Unsaturated Fatty Acids (PUFA) can be further divided into Omega-3 and Omega-6. OMEGA-3 FATTY ACIDS This group of PUFA are best known for their role in reducing inflammation from chronic diseases such as arthritis. Other benefits range from heart, brain and skin health. OMEGA-6 FATTY ACIDS This group of PUFA seriously get a bad rep, even though they are essential for overall health! They serve as an energy source for the body, stimulate growth and help support the immune system. However, excess consumption can lead to excess production of pro-inflammatory biochemicals. TYPE OF FISH Feeding whole fish will always be my ideal, but this sometimes isn’t achievable so tinned fish is a great option. You guessed it, I have an opinion on the type of tinned fish we can offer our dogs. We should be aiming for smaller fish, such as sardines or mackerel. The reason for this is that larger fish such as tuna and salmon have a higher rate of metal toxins. WHICH PRESERVATIVE? Preservatives are necessary for a perishable item, but which is the best health-wise? OIL Usually, the oil that is chosen is Sunflower Oil. Fat is fat soluble, meaning all the good Omega-3’s from the fish will drain into the Omega-6’s found in sunflower oil. Remember Omega-6 can lead to an increase of pro-inflammatory biochemicals, which kind of defeats the point of feeding fish for its anti-inflammatory properties. BRINE Essentially this is just salt water. Very effective at preserving and yes we need salt in our dog's diet. However, unless you are feeding an exclusively fresh food diet (such as raw) your dog will already be getting enough salt from their diet. For raw fed dogs who aren’t eating processed food (this includes treats and the odd tit bit) they can benefit from a pinch of salt, but my preference would be pink himalayan salt, not brine water. This tends to be the cheapest option so a good rinse to remove excess salt is a good shout. SPRING WATER This is exactly what it says on the tin, just water. This tends to be more expensive but we don’t have the worry of excess salt or fish sliding around in pro-inflammatory oil. For me, spring water is the WINNER! Keep it clean and simple. Adding ANY fish is better than no fish, but making these small changes in the type of tinned fish we are buying for our dogs can make a difference in the ongoing battle against management of inflammation. Want to know my thoughts on fish oil and the latest research? Check out my Online Training, To Supplement or Not To Supplement! For readers keen to GET YA NERD ON, check out this research paper. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8308533/
HAVE QUESTIONS AND CONFLICTING ANSWERS? - What is missing from our current pain management plan? - I want to add in a therapeutic modality, but I'm not sure which will work best for my dog? - What is the difference between 80.10.10 and complete? - How can I supercharge my dog's food bowl? - WHO CAN I ASK FOR HELP ASK YAZ! Yaz is a big believer in supporting pet parents, 'where they're at'. If raw feeding isn’t for you, that is fine. If acupuncture seems too much, that is fine. If you can’t stomach tripe, that is also fine! These sessions are about finding practical solutions to supporting your dog's wellness, whatever works best for you both! WHAT'S INCLUDED? - 30-minute phone call to discuss your dog's current nutrition and any required problem-solving. - Within 10 working days, a report will land in your inbox with everything we discussed and a plan of recommendations. WHAT DO CUSTOMERS HAVE TO SAY? "I had a telephone appointment with Yaz regarding my 6 month golden retriever's dietary issues. I was spending a fortune on different supplements to try and sort out his digestive issues. Yaz looked at everything I'm feeding and is now writing a diet plan for my pooch. Yaz is incredibly knowledgeable and explains things in terms that make it so easy to understand. I cannot thank Yaz enough for her time and help. She is wonderful." Nina & Gulliver WELLNESS SESSION CHECKLIST 1. Complete a New Customer Form This will give Yaz an overview of your dog and a chance to highlight what part of your dog's health you are looking to focus on. This could be pain management and nutrition combined, or one or the other. 2. Book your session Using our online booking services , pick your appointment slot and you’re good to go. WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR? Sometimes all you need is a nudge in the right direction, that bit of confidence to take the leap. Each session is accepted on an individual basis, should your dog have pre-existing medical conditions a Wellness Session may not be the service for you. Should this be the case Yaz will email you to advise. Please note that any advice given does not constitute or replace Veterinary Advice.
Take a scroll on social media, it won’t take you long to find a video of a dog doing competition heelwork, you know the type. Head arched up towards the handler, dancing forelimbs, snappy editing with inspiring audio playing over the top “Never lose sight of who you are, show up every day” I paraphrase, but you get the gist. Now this is no hate to the people who make these videos, hats off to you. You clearly have dedicated a lot of time to your dog, crafting that positioning and is it a flex? Well yeah, it looks cool and it's nice to see that connection between dog and handler. The same principle can be applied to gundogs retrieving over tricky terrain and flyball dogs thundering over hurdles. All of these dogs are at the top of their game, athletes if you will. Watching dogs compete is rewarding for handlers and spectators, but most of all the dogs love it! WHY ISN'T PAIN SEXY? Pain is emotive, the very word PAIN can cause upset, offence or straight-up denial. Perhaps it’s because we don’t want to address potential issues, a scuff on that polished image of a winner? Sometimes people aren’t ready to ask the questions, because they’re not going to like the answer. It’s personal, people may feel it is a reflection of the care they provide their dog. It could be a mix of all of the above, no matter where you sit know that if you want to get to grips with your dog's pain management my door is always open (during opening hours) but you get what I mean. LET'S MAKE PAIN MANAGEMENT SEXY! I’m on a mission, to make pain management sexy , well maybe not sexy but just get people interested in the topic. Want to know the flexes I love the most, - My dog can now get out of bed without being stiff - My dog has started climbing on the sofa again - The Vet is really happy with how my dog is progressing - Pain medication has made a difference to my dog's behaviour - The hydrotherapist said my dog worked really well today If you’re a Canine Professional looking to level up your pain knowledge or a Pet Parent hungry for more information check out my online training courses, in particular You Can’t Train Away Pain Love Yaz, Lily, Rodney & Peggy x
If you’ve found this blog you will know by now that I’m a Canine Vet Rehabber. I want to bring together my experience with this drug, what the research is telling us and what leading experts in Veterinary Rehabilitation have to say. My opinion is just that, an opinion. I’m not here to tell you what to do, just share my thoughts on this drug to help Pet Parents make informed decisions when it comes to OA pain management. One of the most hotly debated topics in Veterinary Rehabilitation, is Librela THE answer to our pain management prayers? Is it too good to be true or do I need to stop being so cynical? What is Librela? Librela is a medicine designed to alleviate the pain associated with osteoarthritis (OA) in dogs. This solution is injected under the skin, and dosage is dependent on your dog's weight. This injection is usually administered once a month on a recurring basis. How does it work? Nerve growth factor (NGF) is a naturally occurring protein that is involved in many biological activities in the body from pain signalling to regulation of growth. Librela’s active ingredient, Bedinvetmab, is designed to bind with canine NGF and prevent communication with its receptors. In Librela’s case the aim is to interrupt pain signals, relieving the dog's sensation of pain. What are the benefits? - EFFECTIVE at relieving pain! - Vet’s don’t have to worry about treatment compliance because they are the only ones who can administer this medication. - Monthly treatments, also mean monthly checkups with your Vet on treatment progress. - Results anecdotally seen quickly, research says around a month. What are the risks? Side effects are a risk with everything we do in life, and it can be difficult to pinpoint if particular symptoms can be attributed to Librela. Usually, the demographic for dogs who are a candidate for this treatment will also have other pathologies as well as OA. Some of the side effects that have been reported, - Rapidly progressive osteoarthritis - Systematic disorders: lack of efficacy, polydipsia, death, lethargy, anorexia - Renal and urinary tract disorders: polyuria, urinary incontinence - Digestive tract disorders: diarrhoea, vomiting - Neurological disorders: ataxia, seizures Another side effect that I have seen and heard of is itching. I am yet to find any official reports of this. If your dog is on Librela or indeed any drug, any negatives should be reported to your Vet in order for them to relay this back to the manufacturer. My thoughts Librela came to the UK market in 2020 and in the USA 2023, so we are yet to understand the long-term effects of this drug. What we do have are current side effects, well the ones that have been reported. This in no way detracts from those who have suffered a devastating loss following Librela treatment, if this happened to my dog I too would be shouting from the rooftops. We need to keep listening to ALL experiences, the good and the bad. Although my listed benefits are significantly shorter than the risks involved, please don’t let this distract away from how amazing Librela is for incredibly painful dogs. Relieving a dog from osteoarthritic pain is phenomenal and it can be life-changing for certain pain management cases. What does a leading Holistic Vet have to say? Well you can blame Dr Edward Bassingthwaighte for kick starting my obsession with silent pain. He has a fabulous free lecture on this topic, which I would thoroughly recommend. In his write up on Librela he says, Stage four for me is when we throw the kitchen sink at the dog because we are only focused on quality of life, and keeping him going in as much comfort as possible for as long as possible. I’d include opiate drugs and Librela in this stage. I might also consider Librela in late stage 3 if all other options have been exhausted." (Bassingthwaighte, 2023) What does the ‘Godfather of Vet Rehab’ have to say? Any rehabber will know the legend Darryl Millis, I had the opportunity to speak to him but chickened out! Side note, ask for the selfie next time! Anyway, he concludes in his lengthy write-up on Librela, “My concerns are that other available treatments may be more effective, treatment of early osteoarthritis may result in reduction of joint position awareness, potentially increasing the progression of osteoarthritis, and there is the possibility of neurologic side effects.” (Millis, 2023) Is there a human equivalent to Librela? Nope, there isn't. NOAH, is a public access website containing current data sheets for licensed Veterinary medicine. They state, "In clinical trials in humans, rapidly progressive osteoarthritis has been reported in patients receiving humanised anti-NGF monoclonal antibody therapy. The incidence of these events increased with high doses and in those human patients that received long-term (more than 90 days) non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) concomitantly with an anti-NGF monoclonal antibody. Dogs have no reported equivalent of human rapidly progressive osteoarthritis." (NOAH, 2024) We are the same on a cellular level, a lot of human medicine crosses over into Vet medicine. Not the 'joint trashing' though... I mean I don't want to get my tin foil hat out on this one, but I have one for you too if you would like to borrow it. Mike drop Well what I have been thinking for YEARS has now come into fruition with the latest research from Dr Mike Farrell and a panel of experts. Musculoskeletal adverse events in dogs receiving bedinvetmab (Librela), Farrell, M et al. 2025 This paper reviewed 19 case studies with a variety of adverse events seen, one of these you can see in the image below which I don’t think needs any further explanation. This paper is a call to action, report ANY suspected side effects. Did you know it’s not just your Vet that can report to VMD but pet parents and professionals! RPOA is horrific but the scary thing is we don’t FULLY understand the mechanism of why this is occurring, or the plethora of neurological events. Not only this but the panel performed a Pharmacovigilance analysis. This involves reviewing how data is collected and assessed when it comes to reporting adverse events. The creators of Librela (Zoetis) have been downgrading adverse events reported by Vets. This can be likened to a report of a bone cancer being listed as a stubbed toe, (I made this up for illustrative purposes) Conclusion In conclusion, does Librela have its place in a pain management plan? For me, it absolutely does… in certain circumstances. Librela IS effective at relieving pain, but at what cost? This drug is so over-prescribed for EVERYTHING when (IMO) it should be used in end stage OA with no neuro conditions. - All other pain medication options have been explored and suitable ones trialled. Librela shouldn’t be (IMO) the first port of call when starting a pain management journey. If and when the efficacy dips, what else do we have to fall back on? - Things that a Pet Parent can manage such as weight control, lifestyle changes and exercise should all be fine-tuned before considering It is far too easy to make bold sweeping statements of I will NEVER use Librela, I think in fairness we need to consider what this drug is actually doing on the front line of veterinary medicine. I’ve seen dogs have the last 6 months of their life changed for the better with Librela, something we never could have achieved even with the cocktail of pain medications, physical therapy, nutrition, supplements and lifestyle management. When we’re considering quality of life, surely we want whatever time we have left for them to be comfortable? However for younger dogs, Librela as a first choice drugs for me is unforgivable. Making an INFORMED DECISION is the most important factor, knowing the RISKS and BENEFITS I would have to be REALLY pushed to use this with my own dogs last-chance saloon sort of scenario with end-stage OA. Anything that is referred to as a ‘wonder drug’ proceed with caution. This opinion may change, given time for more research… I doubt it, but never say never. Love Yaz, Lily, Rodney & Peggy Resources https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6326241/ https://www.mylamedog.com/post/what-about-librela-anti-nerve-growth-factor-antibody-treatment https://www.dogsnaturallymagazine.com/librela-berensa-wonder-drug-or-disaster-in-the-making/ https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/veterinary-science/articles/10.3389/fvets.2025.1581490/full
