Companion Animals

Veterinary Pain Management: Closing the Gap

Pain is systematically undertreated in veterinary medicine, with evidence that recognition and management of animal pain lags behind human medicine.

Key Facts

Studies show veterinarians prescribe post-operative analgesics in fewer than 50% of appropriate cases
Species differences in pain expression make recognition particularly challenging
Cats in particular show minimal outward signs of chronic pain
The Glasgow Composite Pain Scale provides validated pain assessment tools
Chronic pain is now recognised as a welfare problem in itself, not just a symptom

Welfare Considerations

Undertreated pain causes unnecessary suffering in millions of animal patients. Fear of opioid regulation, unfamiliarity with feline pain indicators, and cost considerations contribute to undertreatment. Chronic pain from arthritis, dental disease, and cancer is routinely missed in companion animals. Better pain recognition training and more accessible analgesics would significantly improve animal welfare across veterinary practice.

What You Can Do

Ask your vet specifically about pain management after any procedure
Learn validated pain assessment tools for your species
Advocate for pain management training in veterinary continuing education
Report concerns about inadequate pain management to professional bodies
Support research into species-specific pain indicators and treatments