PAIN ASSESSMENT

Our job as veterinarians is to prevent pain and suffering. Pain is physical and , in most cases, manageable with appropriate medication.

Pain in cats and pets in general is very difficult to assess. Animals are very good at hiding signs of pain. Cats, being solitary animals, are excellent at not showing pain. This could be a life saving instinct for cats in the nature. We have to be very vigilant and trained in recognizing situations when our pets could be in distress. During the last decade, great strides have been made in the prevention, assessment, and treatment of pain in human and veterinary patients. Today pain level is considered the fifth vital signs in human patients and human hospital accreditation may include the institutions approach to pain assessment and management.

We at Killarney Cat Hospital are very concerned about comfort of our patients during any medical or surgical procedures. We always look for signs when acute or chronic pain can be present. As veterinary health care professionals, we are trained and have responsibility to treat pain. We are familiar with subtle signs signaling early onset of mild to moderate pain. Part of Wellness Programmes is our COMFORT, PAIN MANAGEMENT AND SUFFERING PREVENTION PROGRAMME (CPSP). Every pet admitted for medical or surgical procedure will offered an effective pain control medication. Please ask for the CPSP package.

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Please look at the following list of most probable signs or symptoms of pain. We hope it will be very helpful to every pet owner:

Abnormal Posture

Hunched up guarding or splinting of abdomen
praying position (forequarters on the ground, hindquarters in the air)
sitting or lying in an abnormal position
not resting in a normal position

Abnormal gait

stiff
no to partial weight bearing on injured limb
slight to obvious limp

Abnormal movement

trashing
restless
no movement when not sleeping

Vocalization

screaming
whining (intermittent, constant, or when touched)
crying
none
miscellaneous
looking, licking, or chewing at the painful area

BEHAVIOURAL CHARACTERISTICS ASSOCIATED WITH PAIN IN CATS AND DOGS, BUT MAY BE ASSOCIATED WITH POOR GENERAL HEALTH (MEDICAL PROBLEMS)


restless or agitated
trembling or shaking
panting or difficulty breathing
weak tail wag
low carriage of tail
depressed or poor response to caregiver
head hangs down
not grooming
appetite decreased, picky, or absent
dull
lying quietly and not moving for hours
stuporous
urinates and defecates and makes no attempt to move
unwilling or unable to walk
bites or attempts to bite caregivers
growling and hissing when approached by caregiver
dilated pupils



ANTICIPATED LEVELS OF PAIN ASSOCIATED WITH SURGICAL PROCEDURES ILLNESS OR INJURIES:


Severe to excruciating

Neuropathic pain, including nerve entrapment, cervical intervertebral disk herniation, and inflammation.
Extensive inflammation (peritonitis, cellulitis)
Postsurgical pain when extensive tissue or injury or inflammation exists
Multiple fractures repair
Bone cancer
Necrotizing pancreatitis (inflammation of pancreas)

Moderate to severe:

Osteoarthritis
Intra-articular surgical procedures
Fracture repair
Limb amputation
Declaw
Peritonitis
Hollow organ distension
Ureteral, urethral obstruction (urinary tract blockage)
Trauma
Frostbite
Cancer pain
Glaucoma
Eye disorder
Queening
Inflammation of mammary gland

Moderate

Knee surgery
Abdominal surgery
Abdominal mass removal
Soft tissue injury
Adult ovariohysterectomy (spay)
Adult neuter
Some dental procedures
Abscess

Mild to moderate:

Ovariohysterectomy spay in young animals
Neuter in young animals
Lump removal
Some ophtalmic surgical procedures
Some lacerations

Mild

early,resolving or simple involvement of conditions mentioned previously.

PAIN -KILLERS TO BE AVOIDED

There are many and safe analgesics available for cats, however, some analgesics used for humans can be extremely toxic and may cause death. Please, never give the following drugs to cats under any circumstances:

Tylenol
Ibuprofen
Aspirin (only under veterinary supervision)