Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Oncology pain in veterinary patients.
- Journal:
- Topics in companion animal medicine
- Year:
- 2010
- Authors:
- Looney, Andrea
- Affiliation:
- Cornell University Hospital for Animals · United States
Plain-English summary
Cancer and the pain it causes are serious issues for pets, just like they are for people. It's important for veterinarians to recognize and treat this pain effectively, as it can affect a pet's overall health and well-being. Factors like fatigue, trouble breathing, weakness, and even problems with eating and bathroom habits can all be linked to cancer and its treatments. The emotional state of pet owners also plays a big role in making decisions about their pet's quality of life. This research aims to create a better system for veterinarians to assess and manage cancer pain in pets, ensuring they receive the best possible care.
Abstract
Cancer, cancer pain, and the undertreatment of cancer pain are epidemic in both the human and veterinary medical field. Concerns over recognition, assessment, and treatment of oncologic pain in our veterinary patients are multiplied when one realizes the interaction of the primary tumor, the pain itself, and even cancer treatments with fatigue, disability, dyspnea, weakness, impaired gastrointestinal motility, cognition, and urinary/defecation issues. The patient's overall health status, as well as owner psychological and spiritual distress, plays a large part in quality-of-life decisions. We will discuss classification and assessment of cancer pain, quality-of-life issues, and therapies for managing cancer pain, including pharmacologic, nonpharmacologic, and interventional techniques. The goal will be establishment of a new oncologic treatment pyramid or scale for veterinary patients, one that will guide clinicians mechanistically into thinking through the anamnesis, physical examination, and assessment of the whole patient, and on toward diagnostics and treatments available for companion animals with cancer.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20188337/