Dogs and cats feel pain and discomfort just as people do. We know that recognizing and alleviating pain in animals is the essence of good patient care and vitally important to their long term health and well-being. If your pet limps, is slow to get up or lie down, doesn't want to jump into the car (or elsewhere), doesn't want to be petted anymore or just seems more irritable, pain may be the problem. Many people attribute these signs to general aging changes, but often it's not that simple. Dogs and cats are masters at masking the pain they endure. This masquerade is an ancestral survival tactic. Our goal is to prevent/eliminate this unnecessary suffering by offering many solutions to this very serious problem for pets of all ages.