At Whiskers Vets, we’ve always believed that great veterinary care is about more than just treating illness – it’s about ensuring every pet feels as comfortable and stress-free as possible. That’s why we’re incredibly proud to announce that we are now a Zero Pain Accredited Practice!
This exciting milestone reflects our ongoing commitment to providing the highest standards of pain recognition, prevention, and management for every patient who walks through our doors.
A team commitment to pain management
Achieving this accreditation has been a team effort across the whole practice. Our entire team has completed additional training in pain management and will continue to do so every year to ensure we stay up to date with the latest knowledge and best practices.
Alexia Mills MRCVS and Abbie Hibbs FdSc RVN played a key role in the accreditation process and will continue to oversee the standards within the practice to ensure they are maintained.
What does this mean for your pet?
To achieve Zero Pain Accreditation, we had to demonstrate that pain management is actively assessed and addressed for every patient where appropriate. This includes:
Pain scoring for acute pain:
For patients undergoing procedures or surgery, we use recognised pain scoring systems to monitor and assess their comfort throughout the day. This helps us identify even subtle signs of discomfort and respond quickly with appropriate pain relief.
Pain scoring for chronic conditions:
For pets with ongoing conditions such as osteoarthritis, we use structured assessment tools including the Helsinki Chronic Pain Index and musculoskeletal scoring. These tools help us monitor how well long-term pain management plans are working and adjust treatment when needed.
Proactive pain relief for surgery and procedures:
Patients undergoing operations receive appropriate opiate pain relief before surgery, along with local anaesthetic blocks to minimise discomfort both during and after procedures. Where owner consent is given, we routinely use these techniques even for procedures such as neutering to improve post-operative comfort and support safer anaesthesia.
Our team regularly performs a variety of local anaesthetic techniques to help reduce pain after procedures while also improving overall anaesthetic safety.
Why pain management matters
Animals are very good at hiding signs of pain, which means discomfort can sometimes go unnoticed without careful monitoring. By using structured pain scoring systems and proactive pain relief strategies, we can ensure our patients receive the support they need as early as possible.
Our goal is always to keep pets as comfortable, safe and pain-free as possible throughout their care.
Continuing to improve
At Whiskers Vets, we are always striving to improve the care we provide for our patients and their families. Becoming a Zero Pain Accredited Practice is another step in that journey and reflects our commitment to compassionate, high-quality veterinary care.
Because every pet deserves care that prioritises their comfort and wellbeing.
