CAL: Pain and Analgesia

Question 1

Which type of opioid drug is buprenorphine?

Answer 1

Partial mu agonist

Question 2

Which type of opioid drug is Naloxone?

Answer 2

mu antagonist

Question 3

What type of opiod is butorphanol?

Answer 3

Mixed agonist-antagonist

Question 4

Which opiod should never be given intravenously?

Answer 4

Pethidine
Causes histamine release

Question 5

Which analgesic should not be used in cats?

Answer 5

Paracetamol

Question 6

Why is butorphanol not a good choice of analgesic for surgery?

Answer 6

Butorphanol is a mu-opioid receptor antagonist, so does not provide good analgesia for surgery

Question 7

How can you continue to provide analgesia post-operatively to a dog?

Answer 7

Post-operative injectable opiods and oral NSAIDs
* If morphine has been included in the epidural injection, this may provide analgesia for up to 24 hours
* Addition of a continuous infusion in case of high pain scores

Question 8

List some signs you may see from a feline patient in pain

Answer 8

• Reluctance to move
• Growling, hissing
• Vocalising when touched
• Tachycardia
• Tachypnoea
• Dilated pupils
• May look distant and try to hide
• Using pain scales/ grimace scales

Question 9

What other factors may produce similar signs to pain in cats (that can be confused with pain)?

Answer 9

• Anxiety, stress
• Unfamiliar surroundings
• Cats do not like bandages - try to differentiate between dislike for bandage and pain