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Pain and its management
1Surgical Research and Development, ETHICON ENDO-SURGERY, Inc., Cincinnati, Ohio, USA.
The Veterinary Clinics of North America. Small Animal Practice
|February 12, 1998
Summary
Managing pain in older animals requires careful drug selection due to their unique physiology. Adjusting doses of common analgesics and considering alternative pain management techniques are key for geriatric veterinary care.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Medicine
- Geriatric Care
- Pain Management
Background:
- Pain management in geriatric patients is crucial for animal welfare.
- Older animals present unique challenges for analgesia due to physiological changes and comorbidities.
- Appropriate pain management is essential for improving the quality of life in senior pets.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the considerations for analgesic drug selection in geriatric veterinary patients.
- To highlight safe and effective pain management strategies for older animals.
- To discuss the role of conventional and alternative analgesics in geriatric pain control.
Main Methods:
- Review of current literature on geriatric pain management in veterinary medicine.
- Analysis of pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic alterations in aged animals.
- Evaluation of commonly used analgesics (narcotics, NSAIDs) and alternative techniques.
Main Results:
- Geriatric patients require adjusted dosages and frequencies for narcotics and NSAIDs.
- Underlying diseases in older animals necessitate careful drug selection and monitoring.
- Alternative analgesic methods like nerve blocks, spinal analgesia, and transdermal patches are valuable options.
Conclusions:
- Safe and effective pain management in geriatric veterinary patients is achievable with careful planning.
- Individualized treatment plans considering altered physiology and comorbidities are essential.
- A multimodal approach combining adjusted conventional analgesics and alternative techniques can optimize pain relief in older animals.