Pain Flashcards
What are the 3 dimensions of pain?
What are some of the effects of unrelieved pain?
Neuroendocrine : hypoglycaemia, weight loss, ↓wound healing, impaired immune system
Cardiovascular : Fatigue, immobility, weakness
Respiratory: ↓ lung volume leading to atelectasis & hypoxaemia
GIT & urinary: ↓bowel motility leading to constipation, anorexia, ileus, urinary retention
MSK: ↓muscle function & spasm leading to weakness, immobility & fatigue
Psychological: fear, anxiety leading to poor sleep, ↓coping, PTSD
What are some commonly used pain assessment scales?
Simple Descriptive Scale (SDS)
Numerical Rating Scale (NRS)
Visual Analog Scale (VAS)
Composite Pain Scales (e.g., CMPS-Feline)
Feline Grimace Scale
Equine Pain Scales.
Gait analysis
What are the challenges of pain scoring?
What is the most commonly used acute pain scale?
Glasgow Composite Measure Pain Scale (CMPS-SF)
How is the CMPS-SF structured?
Contains 30 descriptor options across 6 behavioral categories, including mobility.
Each descriptor is ranked numerically by associated pain severity.
The assessor selects the descriptor that best fits the dog’s behavior or condition.
There is a maximum score of 24
Describe how to use the CMPS-SF scale
- Initial assessment: Wait until recovery from anesthesia to evaluate
- Analgesia: Administer if scores are greater than 5/20 or 6/24
- Reassessment: Check 1h after analgesia; if pain scores drop below threshold, reassess in 2 hours
- Ongoing monitoring: Assess every 3–4hrs or as needed depending on analgesic class, route & duration
Scale is intended to be adjunct to clinical judgement
What is the scoring system of the CMPS-Feline?
pain score is sum of rank scores across 7 categories.
Maximum score: 20.
Analgesic intervention threshold: 5/20.
What are features of grimace/pain faces?
- Ear Changes: fold, curl & angle forwards or outwards, pointed shape
- Orbital Tightening: narrowing of orbital area,partial or complete eye closure orsqueezing
- Nose/Cheek Flattening: with eventual absence ofcrease between cheek & whisker pads
- Whisker Change:move forward away from face
What factors can be used to assess pain in cattle?
What factors can be used to assess pain in pigs
Wrinkling of snout
Ears held backwards
What factors can be used to assess pain in horses
trical/low ears or ears held stiffly backwards
Angled eye/tension above eye area & orbital tightening
Withdrawn & tense stare
Nostrils – square-like/strained
Tension of muzzle/strained mouth & pronounced chin
Tension of the mimic muscles/chewing muscles
What analgesics methods are used for acute pain management?
Opioids
NSAIDs
Local anesthetics
Ketamine and alpha-2 agonists
Cold therapy
Tissue handling.
What supportive care is essential in pain management?
Nursing care, including bandages, massage, IV line care, monitoring, range of motion (ROM), and ensuring sleep.
Gentle handling to minimize stress.
What is the tiered approach to managing perioperative pain of known cause?
- Start with opioids, NSAIDs, and local anesthetics.
- Include cold therapy and appropriate nursing care.
- Use ketamine and alpha-2 agonists if necessary.
- Consider physical modalities & anti-inflammatory diets
What are the targets for NSAIDs
Inhibit COX enzymes (COX-1 & COX-2), reducing prostaglandin production & alleviating inflammation & pain
Besides inflammation, what are the essential functions of prostaglandins in body?
Protect the stomach and intestinal lining.
Maintain kidney blood flow.
Support platelet function for blood clotting.
What are some common NSAIDs used in small animals?
Meloxicam
Carprofen
Robenacoxib
Firocoxib.
What are the most common equine NSAIDs
Phenylbutazone (suxibuzone), Flunixin meglumine, Meloxicam
What are the most common cattle NSAIDs
Meloxicam, Ketoprofen
Cattle and small ruminants should receive NSAIDs for
castration, disbud, assisted calving, foot care etc
In what patients is the use of NSAIDs contraindicated?
Renal or hepatic insufficiency (how bad?)
Hypovolaemia
Congestive heart failure & pulmonary disease
Coagulopathies, active haemorrhage
Spinal injuries
Gastric ulceration
Concurrent use of steroids
Shock, trauma
Pregnancy