DM1 Pt7-4 Recognition of Pain Flashcards
What is a common behavior in cats experiencing pain?
Withdrawing from the environment and hiding at the back of their cage.
How does pain manifest differently in cats compared to dogs?
Cats tend to withdraw rather than seek attention when in pain, unlike dogs.
What physiological changes may indicate pain in cats?
Increased heart rate, respiratory rate, or pupil dilation, although these are not always reliable.
What is a common behavioral sign of pain in cats?
Aggression, which can lessen if pain is managed with analgesia.
What posture might a cat in pain exhibit?
Hunched posture or reluctance to move.
What should you assess to identify pain in a cat?
Both spontaneous behavior (undisturbed) and dynamic behavior (during handling) to observe reactions to movement or palpation.
How can you differentiate between stress and pain in cats?
Pain often causes a specific reaction to palpation of the affected area, while stress alone doesn’t.
What is a key recommendation if unsure whether a cat is in pain?
Administer an analgesic dose and observe any change in behavior.
What might reduce a cat’s stress during hospitalization?
Environmental changes like covering the cage front or providing a box to hide.
How might pain affect a cat’s behavior towards self-care?
Pain can result in a lack of grooming, leading to an ungroomed coat.
Why is it important to quantify pain in cats?
Quantifying pain helps determine when to redose analgesics and assess whether pain is reducing over time.
What makes pain assessment in cats unique?
Pain is individual, and since cats cannot self-report, we rely on observation to assess their pain level.
What are the three commonly used pain scales for cats?
Simple descriptive scale, numerical rating scale, and visual analogue scale.
What is a simple descriptive scale in pain assessment?
A scale where the cat is assigned a pain score based on descriptors like mild or severe pain.
What is a numerical rating scale in pain assessment?
A scale that scores pain from 0 to 10, where 0 is no pain, and 10 is the worst possible pain.
What is a visual analogue scale?
A 10 cm line anchored at 0 mm (no pain) and 100 mm (maximum pain), with a mark made to indicate pain level.
What is a key advantage of the visual analogue scale?
It is highly sensitive and can detect minor differences in pain levels.
What is a major drawback of the visual analogue scale in clinical settings?
It is sensitive to scorer variability, making it less reliable in multi-user clinical situations.
What is a composite pain scale?
A scale that quantifies both pain intensity and emotional distress, like the Glasgow Pain Scale for dogs.
Why is using pain scales in clinical practice helpful?
Pain scales prompt assessors to think about pain, leading to improved pain management and tracking.
