Anesthesiology & Pain Management

Although the terms degenerative joint disease and osteoarthritis are commonly used interchangeably in the veterinary arena, a distinction has been made between the two.

Compared with the radiographic features of feline osteoarthritis, the clinical signs of feline osteoarthritis are not well-documented.

It appears to be more common than previously thought and could be a major cause of discomfort in senior cats.

When managing chronic cough, it is important to grade the severity of the cough.

In 1915, Sir Frederick Hobday, a British veterinary surgeon, noted that "it is of no avail to have done any operation, however clever, if the patient succumbs to the anesthetic."

Dr. Sheilah Robertson discusses what cat owners can do to help their cats with chronic pain.

Fort Collins, Colo. -- Colorado State University's (CSU) Center for Comparative and Integrative Pain Medicine is studying whether herbal supplements have any affect on arthritis pain in dogs.

Clients often fail to recognize the onset of arthritis in their pets.

Madison, Wis. -- A new injectable pain drug being studied at the University of Wisconsin (UW) could actually help animals recover faster after surgery.

Cats are notorious for concealing pain. In contrast to dogs, they rarely vocalize in response to ain unless pushed to the limit.

Pulse oximeters are relatively inexpensive and provide continuous information about pulse rate and hemoglobin saturation.

The development of an anesthesia plan is the first step towards well-managed anesthesia care for your patient.

Anesthetic related mortality would appear to be an easily quantifiable statistic that could be used to measure the outcome of the profession's current anesthetic practices.

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)