Abstract
Abstract Dogs and cats are popular pets and it is estimated that over one-third of households in the USA own a cat or dog, with an estimated national population of approximately 72 million dogs and 83 million cats. Many of these animals will undergo a surgical procedure such as an ovariohysterectomy or castration and because pets are living longer, chronic pain, for example that related to osteoarthritis, is of concern in senior animals. The number of published papers related to the recognition and treatment of pain in cats and dogs continues to grow exponentially; this is encouraging for those involved in small animal practice but keeping abreast of new developments can be a challenge. This review aims to discuss the value of current methods and to highlight new and emerging ideas in pain management for cats and dogs. Key topics include the physiology and pathobiology of pain, behaviour-based assessment of pain, the importance of pre-emptive treatment, the differences in the pharmacokinetics of drugs between cats and dogs and the place of complementary modalities such as acupuncture in veterinary pain management.
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