|Articles|June 29, 2010

Image Quiz: Postoperative pain in cats, Photo A

Incorrect. This cat that has undergone a thoracotomy appears to be relaxed—its eyes are open, its head is up, and its feet and legs are stretched, not tucked under, so it is likely comfortable. Cats experiencing postoperative pain are often in a hunched position with their heads pointing slightly downward. In addition, their eyes may be half-way closed and in a slanted position. For more on this important topic, see "Behaviors Suggestive of Postoperative Pain in Cats" by Dr. Sheilah A. Robertson.

Return to the quiz and try again.

From exam room tips to practice management insights, get trusted veterinary news delivered straight to your inbox—subscribe to dvm360.

Related to this article

September 19th, 2026

Why pet owners decline vaccines: Survey insights and strategies for navigating hesitancy

In a keynote address at the 2026 Fetch National Harbor Veterinary Conference, Jessica Pritchard, VMD, MS, DACVIM (SAIM), shared research showing that many owners decline vaccines because they do not think their pet needs them, and discussed ways veterinary teams can address those concerns.

September 19th, 2026

Veterinary triage for technicians: Assessing urgency, communicating with clients, and coordinating the team

Alyssa Mages, BS, CVT, FVTE, outlines key considerations for veterinary technicians during triage, from rapid patient assessment and prioritization to client communication and team coordination, in this interview from the Fetch National Harbor Veterinary Conference.

September 18th, 2026

Good flea control is good tapeworm control, veterinarian tells Fetch attendees

In a session at the 2026 Fetch National Harbor conference, Nathanael Oster, VMD, MBA, walked attendees through the biology, diagnosis, and treatment of the flea tapeworm in dogs and cats, including why cats are affected more often than dogs.

September 18th, 2026

SNAP-P: If rotisserie chicken, why not pet food?

SNAP-P is a proposed high-impact program that would provide at least $4.4 billion in benefits to low-income pet owners at marginal cost to federal and state governments.

September 18th, 2026

Inside veterinary social work

In a slideshow drawn from an onsite dvm360 interview at Fetch National Harbor, a veterinary oncologist and a veterinary social worker walk through how the role supports owners and staff across a pet's cancer diagnosis, treatment, and end-of-life care.

September 18th, 2026

Wrap up: New World screwworm confirmed in a US horse, and other news

Here are this week's headlines

September 17th, 2026

Dave & Cheryl Duffield Foundation commits $250 million to expand veterinary care access

The five-year Big Bet for Pets initiative targets what the foundation calls a care gap affecting 50 million dogs and cats in the US, opening two new grant programs for nonprofit veterinary clinics.

September 17th, 2026

New study takes aim at copper-associated liver disease in Labrador retrievers

A UC Davis study is investigating why Labrador retrievers develop copper-associated hepatopathy and whether blood-based tools could help identify the disease before serious liver damage occurs.

Image Quiz: Postoperative pain in cats, Photo A

Related to this article

Trending on dvm360

Why pet owners decline vaccines: Survey insights and strategies for navigating hesitancy

New study takes aim at copper-associated liver disease in Labrador retrievers

Veterinary triage for technicians: Assessing urgency, communicating with clients, and coordinating the team

Good flea control is good tapeworm control, veterinarian tells Fetch attendees

Dave & Cheryl Duffield Foundation commits $250 million to expand veterinary care access