Animal Update: How Your Pets Feel Pain

(CBS SF) - Most of us know that cats and dogs feel pain, but it was previously surmised that they may not feel pain in quite the same way that we do.

"I've been a veterinarian for many years and when I was first trained, we were indeed taught that dogs and cats didn't experience our kind of pain," explained Dr. Jack Aldridge, Director of Veterinary Services at the San Francisco SPCA. "Many people believed that pain from a broken leg or after major surgery was actually a good thing for animals."

"The thinking was...that they weren't bothered by the pain but it served to slow them down, make them rest and encouraged healing," Aldridge continued." We now know that it indeed slows them down but the pain can actually be terribly detrimental to quick recovery and proper healing in almost any animal.

KCBS' Jeff Bell Reports:

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