Dr. Stramel runs and operates Advanced Care Veterinary Services, a specialty practice limited to pain management and rehabilitation in Carrollton, TX. The majority of his patients are older adults or seniors, many of which are treated using regenerative medicine such as platelet-rich plasma or stem cells to help with mobility issues.

“We see dogs that are partially paralyzed and utilize acupuncture, photobiostimulation, and shockwave, among other therapies, to help them regain the ability to walk,” he shares. “We also see a lot of pets with cruciate ligament injuries that are not ideal surgical candidates and we help them regain function and use of the affected knee. We have even been known to treat a bunny or a chicken with acupuncture to help it with mobility issues.”

In addition to running his practice, Dr. Stramel also provides pain management consultations and education to other veterinarians in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, is a published author, national and international speaker on the topics of pain management, and has participated in nine FDA clinical trials to help advance treatment in the field of pain management.

“By working with Zoetis and Elanco, I have provided continuing education presentations and wet labs on the topics of anesthesia and pain management to practitioners in north Texas and Oklahoma,” he adds.

As a 1991 graduate from Kansas State University, it wasn’t until years later that Dr. Stramel discovered his niche for pain management. “Back in 1997 the owner of the practice I was working for had to take an unexpected leave of work for a couple days,” he recalls. “During that time, one of their good clients was coming in to euthanize their geriatric dog due to mobility issues.

“A brand new product was just released called Rimadyl,” Dr. Stramel continues. “It was the first FDA-approved NSAID for dogs to treat pain and inflammation. After doing my exam, I thought I could help the dog with the use of this product. The dog, Molly, responded very well and I was able to keep Molly comfortable for the next two years. This was my first and most important step in getting into the pain management field.”

Following his initial discovery of his passion for pain management, Dr. Stramel says he took a few detours, but ended up finding the International Veterinary Academy of Pain Management (IVAPM) around 2007 and became very involved with them. From 2010-2013 he was Chair of “Advisory Council on Pain Management,” which is dedicated to publishing pain management guidelines in the field of veterinary medicine, was the Treasurer from 2013-2019, President-elect from 2019-2021 and President from 2021-2023.

“There are a lot of brilliant minds involved with both IVAPM and many universities that are continuously looking at new ways of treating pain,” Dr. Stramel says. “The newest product we have is not even a drug per se; it is a monoclonal antibody that targets the pain associated with osteoarthritis. I look forward to what all will be released in the next few years, as there is quite a bit in the works.”

In 2009, he received the credentials of Certified Veterinary Pain Practitioner through IVAPM, and is the first and only veterinarian to receive this credentialing in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. But, his credentials in this specialized sector don’t stop there. He is certified in Western Medical Acupuncture through Colorado State University (now known as CuraCore) and has received training in dry needling therapy for release of myofascial trigger points through Myopain Seminars.

Even with his many accomplishments and specialized training, Dr. Stramel has proved that the sector of veterinary pain management is complex and always changing. However, he goes on to say that there are additional measures that general practice vets can take to identify and treat pain in their patients.

“It starts with thoroughly palpating the pets for a good musculoskeletal examination,” Dr. Stramel advises. “There have been numerous times, after I examine a pet, the owner states that no one has ever touched their pet so much during an examination. Without thorough palpation it is quite easy to miss important details about the pet’s pain.

“It is also crucial to utilize a validated pain scale for both acute and chronic pain,” he continues. “There is an amazing product called Pain Trace. This unit will show real-time pain levels that are acquired using skin-mounted sensors that process a direct pain biosignal generated by the nervous system. This is an underutilized device in most general practices.”

While his days in practice are dedicated to managing pain in pets, Dr. Stramel still finds time to enjoy his home life with his family on their Texas ranch.

“Most of my free time is used by my eight-year-old daughter and her barrel horse, Jackpot,” he says. “My wife runs an amazing boutique horse hotel and Airbnb so I have plenty of chores to do around the ranch. Lastly, I make time for my daughter and I to go fishing, explore the woods, and ride the four-wheeler.”

To conclude, Dr. Stramel summarizes why he is so passionate about this very important and rewarding role that he plays in the vast industry of veterinary medicine: “The joy and satisfaction I experience when I witness the transformation of a pet, from a state of pain and discomfort to renewed vitality and happiness, is incredibly rewarding,” he expresses. “The moment you see that certain look on a client’s face after their paralyzed dog takes its first few steps, when the client was told that they had to either euthanize the dog or pay over $10,000 for spinal surgery, is one that you will never forget. We see cases like this several times a year, and being able to give the clients hope and another option is the best feeling in the world.”

The specialty sector of pet pain management is oftentimes one that is taken for granted; to treat a pet for its symptoms—which often include pain—is veterinary care. However, identifying the source of pain and choosing the proper method of treatment are areas that require skill and a depth of knowledge, and this is certainly a specialty that Dr. Douglas Stramel has mastered, relieving his patients from pain and putting their owners at ease knowing their pets are no longer suffering.

To learn more about the International Veterinary Academy of Pain Management, visit www.IVAPM.org