Whisker & Woof, an independent small-animal practice in Blackheath, has become the first veterinary practice in London to achieve Zero Pain Philosophy accreditation – an independent standard awarded to practices that recognise, measure and pre-empt pain to the highest current standards, for every patient and every procedure.
At its heart is a simple reframing: pain treated as the “fourth vital sign”, checked as routinely as temperature, pulse and breathing. Animals are hardwired to hide pain, which makes it easy to miss and easy to underestimate. Left untreated, it slows healing, suppresses appetite and can wind up into chronic pain that is far harder to resolve.
Accreditation means patients are pain-assessed at every consultation, using validated, species-specific scoring tools including the Glasgow Composite Measure Pain Scale, Feline Grimace Scale and Liverpool Osteoarthritis in Dogs (LOAD). A dedicated four-strong pain team delivers multimodal relief matched to each animal; every surgical patient goes home with a written pain plan and a follow-up comfort call, and the practice runs dedicated clinics for pets living with chronic pain such as arthritis.
“Animals can’t tell us where it hurts, so the responsibility falls entirely on us – to look, to measure, and to act before discomfort takes hold,” said Jason Way, Founder and Head Veterinary Surgeon. “If we’ve done our job well, most owners will never know the pain their pet didn’t have to feel.”
The accreditation joins the practice’s RCVS Accredited Practice status and ISFM Silver Cat Friendly Clinic recognition, each independently inspected every year.
About Whisker & Woof
Whisker & Woof is a new kind of veterinary practice that cares deeply about its clients and pets. The practice aims to do more for people’s pets than ever before, creating a safe space for the most important companions to live their best lives. Founded by Jason Way (a vet with over 30 years of experience), the company offers a range of services to help people get the support they need for their pets. Options include preventative, routine and urgent care, lifestage, wellness, and more.