Pain Management and Control

The recognition of pain is not a simple assessment of vocalizing (crying). In all fairness to ‘those who cannot speak for themselves’, the identification of pain can often be a subtle change in their routine behaviour, a reluctance to perform tasks they normally cherish, such as greeting you at the door.

As veterinary surgeons we have a clear perspective of surgical trauma –no matter how smooth and ‘routine’ the procedure. Simply put, surgery is invasive and events under anesthesia are “stored in spinal cord memory” to play back the event relentlessly. To address this issue properly, we feel all cases require “pre-emptive analgesia” by receiving pain management drugs intra-operatively (before surgery is completed) and post-operatively. Obviously this has to apply on an individual case basis because some drugs are contraindicated in certain cases with pre-existing kidney or liver disease.

Our pain management standards follow the American Animal Hospital Association guidelines as follows:
· pain assessment is part of every patient evaluation
· pain assessment is recorded in the medical record for every patient regardless of the presenting complaint.
· pain management accompanies surgical procedures.
· we utilize pre-emptive pain management.
· patient is assessed for evidence of pain throughout any procedure that has the potential to cause discomfort.
· analgesia therapy is used as a tool to confirm the existence of a painful condition when pain is suspected but cannot be confirmed by objective methods.
· in cases where pain management is part of the therapeutic plan, the client is effectively advised regarding medical issues such as potentially beneficial and adverse effects of the therapy.

We know the issue of pain management is of great concern to pet owners today. As in human medicine, we have a variety of medications available to manage your pet’s pain both before and after surgery and in the event of trauma.  We would be pleased to discuss the options available to you and your pet under any of the above circumstances.