Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
How vets assess pain in dogs and cats
By Hunt, James·Published in Companion Animal·2014·School of Clinical Veterinary Sciences, University of Bristol, United Kingdom·View original on Crossref →
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Original publication title: Pain assessment in small animal practice
Plain-English summary
Many dogs and cats experience pain after surgery, even when pain relief medications are given. To help identify which pets need more pain relief, veterinarians can use specific pain scales designed for each species. Owners can also learn to recognize subtle signs of pain in their pets, which might not be obvious in a clinic setting. This training can help ensure that pets receive the right amount of pain management for a smoother recovery.
People also search for: dog post-surgery pain signs · cat pain relief options · how to tell if my pet is in pain
Abstract
Despite rational perioperative analgesic prescription, a proportion of feline and canine patients will experience moderate-to-severe pain. Species-specific acute pain scales can be used to identify animals requiring further analgesia, and examples of validated pain scales are presented. Persistent pain may result in more subtle behavioural changes, which are often masked in a clinic environment, but are very amenable to assessment by owners following appropriate training from the veterinary and nursing team involved in the care of the patient.
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Search related cases →Original publication on Crossref: https://doi.org/10.12968/coan.2014.19.3.125