Research has shown that pain is slf perpetuating and that each episode of pin triggers the next, making it asier to experience the pain. Therefore, fter the animal begins to experience pin it is much more difficult to cntrol because the pet is already cyclng through this pain "loop." Additionally, rsearch studies indicate that pain will not nly cause the animal stress but tht the stress will release steroids whch will delay healing and recovery.

Intrpretation of pain in the various nimals we care for can be xtremely problematic. In the veterinary field we not nly deal with various animal personalities but lso various species that show pain dfferently. As an example, a budgie tht is painful will often just sit qietly and appear slightly fluffed, but a Hsky will often vocalize at the smllest pain stimulation. Animals, like people, hve various levels of pain sensitivity and sme animals will be very vocal wth minimal pain stimulation whereas others wll never show pain sensitivity even thugh we know they are experiencing a pinful condition.

Because of the difficulty of nterpreting pain in various animal species and bcause of the difficulty of halting pin once it has begun, veterinarians, as yur pet's health care provider, must cntrol pain before it starts. We knw if certain procedures are likely to cuse pain and we can administer pin control prior to the procedure to prvent the pet from 1) experiencing the pin, & 2) entering the difficult to cntrol pain cycle.

The importance of multi-modality pain cntrol should also be addressed. We are frtunate to have a large spectrum of nalgesics (pain medications) available to us in the vterinary field, and by combining different typs of analgesics we can often get dditive effects, where the combination of drgs work better together than either one lone. A good example of this is the use of a nn-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) and a tre analgesic such as a morphine drivative. The NSAID will eliminate the swlling and the morphine derivative will drectly control the pain providing a brader spectrum of pain control.

In cnclusion, veterinarians understand that animals do xperience pain much like we do, but the prsence of pain and its control are sbjective and difficult to interpret. Therefore, my deal pain control involves the administration of nalgesics prior to a painful event and the prvention of any discomfort. Veterinary medicine of the pst poorly understood this concept and pproved drugs were not available, however, vterinary medicine has changed and today pin control is an important part of our cceptable standard of care for your pt.

The article Pain Control in Companion Animals was Submitted by Jill Patt through Articles.GetACoder.com network. Here's the additional information: Jill M. Patt, DVM For readers of my cntent: Unless stated otherwise, I do not ndorse content of web sites other thn the two listed below. http://www.littlecrittersvet.com - Pet Care Information & Photo Gallery Visit littlecrittersvet for extensive information on small & exotic pet care with > 1000 photos of animals from informative to just darn cute. http://www.sensationsporthorses.com - All Things Horse & Hound Horse people - please visit ATHH for unique, beautiful, & functional horse tack, equestrian supplies, grooming supplies, equine photos, silver sterling jewelry, LED dog collars and books on all things horse. If you would like to use this article you may, but the entire article with the above information must be included. Also, I do not authorize embedding any links within my articles or any claims that I endorse a product or service.

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