Most pet owners will tell you how much their furry or feathered friends enrich their lives. Pets provide companionship, unconditional love, and joy. For those with chronic pain, pets can give their owners even more. Just ask Maggie Buckley. A former board member of the American Pain Foundation, Buckley has been living with pain most of her life. She says her pets have provided motivation, love, and a lifeline during her darkest hours.
At 13 years old, Buckley was diagnosed with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, a genetic connective tissue disorder that causes easy and frequent bruising, poor wound healing, generalized pain, and joints that dislocate easily. She also has arthritis and migraine headaches. In 1998, her chronic pain conditions forced her to retire early from a position at a digital imaging company.
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Buckley struggled to find a new place in the world. She lost her social network at work and felt she lost her identity as well. That’s when a beagle mix named “Q” came into her life and became a core part of her pain management support team.

How Pets Can Help With Pain Management

Q gave Buckley a reason to get up in the morning and get moving. “This little creature needed me — she needed me to take care of her.” Q also enabled Buckley to make some new human connections close to home. Walks through the neighborhood not only provided Buckley with needed exercise, but also gave her the opportunity to get to know the neighbors and make new friends at dog parks.
After obedience and agility training, Buckley and Q were able to communicate with hand signals and verbal commands. Q picked up items that Buckley dropped, saving her from having to bend down. Buckley says Q even had a sixth sense for pain. “She often licked my painful feet or hands as if gently massaging them,” recalls Buckley. “When I had a headache, I swear she used to walk more quietly.”


According to the Delta Society, an organization that promotes human health through the use of animals, what Q gave Buckley is not uncommon. The non-profit group says research shows pets decrease feelings of depression, loneliness, and isolation. Pets may also be able to do your heart some good — they are credited with lowering blood pressure and cholesterol.


Sadly, Q passed away in March 2010. “Q was an inspiration to me and a motivator. She distracted me from my pain with her adorableness, intelligence, and love. I will always remember her as an exceptional creature,” she says.
Ironically, another family tragedy brought a different, but very special animal into Buckley’s home. Following her father’s death in October 2010, Buckley became the proud new mom of her father’s purebred beagle Fred.
Just as Q had done, Fred is helping Buckley get through a life transition. “Fred has been very comforting throughout the emotional upheaval of this great loss,” says Buckley. “Thanks to Fred, I get up in the morning, feed him, take him on a 60-to-90 minute walk, practice his training, play fetch, and cuddle.”

Caring for a Pet When You’re Living With Pain

Pets need to be taken care of, even when you’re in pain. Feeding, bathing, and walking them and getting them to the vet can be challenging and can drain your energy. A few adjustments can make their care easier.
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Buckley says both of her dogs received obedience and agility training, which meant that Q and Fred could help with her daily routine. Both were trained to stand on a special step — using the pedestal command from agility training classes — so that she can more easily reach them to brush them or towel them off when needed. She also keeps her pet supplies on a shelf that she is able to reach easily.
Although no dog could replace Q, Fred is finding his place in the family and helping Buckley with her chronic pain conditions. He has started picking up dropped objects and helped Buckley when she dislocated her ankle. “Fred was right there with me, as calm as could be, keeping me warm as I iced the elevated ankle 20 minutes of every hour,” she says.

The Power of Pets

Pet ownership may not be appropriate for everyone living with chronic pain, so ask your medical team if your overall health is good enough to make the commitment. Keep in mind that if pet care becomes too difficult or if you need an occasional break, pet sitters and walkers are available at reasonable rates to help you. The Arthritis Foundation has tips on finding a number of pet care services.
Buckley says it’s a wise choice if you can handle the responsibility. “You cannot underestimate the power of pets when one is in pain. A pet comforts you and at the same time takes you out of yourself as you care for them,” she says. “A pet is more powerful than any medication when it comes to comforting, soothing, and distracting you when you are experiencing pain.”