Adequate pain management for animals remains inconsistently applied in both companion animal and farm animal veterinary practice, with significant welfare consequences.
Veterinary pain management failures have multiple roots: inadequate training, cultural minimization of animal pain, concern about drug diversion (opioids), and economic pressure to minimize medication costs in farm animal practice. The welfare cost is enormous — animals recovering from surgery, suffering from injury, or enduring chronic conditions do so with inadequate analgesia. Research demonstrates that animals provided adequate pain management recover faster, have better immune function, and return to normal behavior sooner — creating a productivity argument that aligns with the welfare case. Improving veterinary pain management is one of the highest-leverage opportunities to reduce animal suffering.