Anesthesiology & Pain Management

Alpha 2 adrenergic agonists bind to alpha 2 receptors located in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord and brainstem, modulating the release of substance P, calcitonin gene-related peptide and various other neurotransmitters involved in rostral transmission of nociceptive information.

The emphasis on providing humane care and good pain management to small animal patients has primarily focused on dogs, and the pharmaceutical products available for use in that species.

Pain is defined by the International Association for the Study of Pain as an unpleasant sensory or emotional experience associated with actual or potential tissue damage or described in terms of such damage.

The emerging field of Regenerative Medicine has many definitions; however the NIH's definition, "A treatment in which stem cells are induced to differentiate into the specific cell type required to repair damaged or destroyed cell populations or tissues" provides a basis for further discussion of stem cell therapies and their role in daily practice.

In the past blood gas analysis and interpretation was performed primarily at university and large referral hospitals.

The electrocardiogram is a useful monitoring tool, but its proper use requires training.

Patients vary and accidents occur. This truth emphasizes the need for patient monitoring.

Most critically ill veterinary patients will require anesthesia to perform diagnostic and/or therapeutic procedures at some point during their hospitalization.

The purpose of patient monitoring is to provide information that can be used by the anesthetist and allow for prudent decisions that will maximize patient support and safety.

Premedication with a tranquilizer or sedative will help reduce anxiety and stress during the perioperative period.

The development of a successful anesthesia plan is built on an understanding of several factors.

Nashville, Tenn. -- The International Veterinary Academy of Pain Management (IVAPM) is offering a certification program for those interested in new methods of pain management.

Q: Please provide a review on palliative care for animals diagnosed with cancer.

Listen to Dr. Robin Downing, DAAPM, explain the most important thing for team members to know about pain

There is no doubt that the experience of pain transforms an individual's life, both while it is ongoing as well as after the acute effects have passed.

The incidence of chronic pain in cats is not well documented but is associated with many conditions including osteoarthritis, cancer, interstitial cystitis, dental and gum disease and long-standing dermatitis and wounds.

What is pain? "An unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with actual or potential tissue damage" (International Association for the Study of Pain)

There are two major dynamics driving the expanding need for effective chronic pain management; pets are living much longer and they are now frequently considered full members of the family.

In the USA pet cats outnumber dogs yet our understanding and treatment of pain in this species has lagged behind that for dogs.

In 2001, a letter to the editor of Veterinary Record from a highly experienced equine practitioner suggested that horses experience little or no pain after castration and questioned the routine administration of postoperative analgesic medications for all equine castrations.

There are many factors affecting patient outcome after a surgical procedure.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic, non-infectious, progressive disorder of any synovial joint.

Cats experience acute pain related to surgical procedures or following trauma.

When one speaks of pain management in dogs they are discussing one species with research to back up their statements.

The prevailing system of veterinary medical education and the practice of continued learning are not based on rigorous assessment of evidence for or against particular management options, including many aspects of clinical nutrition.

Pain management is a staple factor in the treatment of any physical therapy patient – whether two of four legged.

Oral surgery in canine and feline patients often requires extended periods of anesthesia necessitating optimal anesthetic management.

What is meant by small mammals? Small mammals in this document refer to those species commonly kept as pets, not including dogs and cats, for example, rodents (rats, mice, chinchillas, guinea pigs), rabbits, and ferrets.

The utilization of regional nerve blocks for oral surgery in dogs and cats is synonymous with quality patient care.

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are the most widely used analgesic agents in equine medicine.