Veterinary Opioid Use and Animal Pain Management

Effective pain management in animals requires adequate access to opioids and other analgesics for veterinarians.

Key Facts

Veterinarians are regulated under the same DEA opioid frameworks as human medicine
Restrictions on opioid access create gaps in animal pain management
Non-opioid pain management is advancing but gaps remain for severe pain
Farm animals have significantly fewer approved pain management options than companion animals

Welfare Considerations

Animal pain management has advanced considerably but remains constrained by regulatory frameworks designed for human medicine. Veterinarians treating severe pain in animals — particularly during surgery, cancer, and trauma — depend on opioids that are increasingly difficult to access due to misuse prevention measures. Farm animals have even fewer options, with very few approved analgesics. Expanding the veterinary toolkit for pain management is a direct welfare priority.

What You Can Do

Support veterinary advocacy for improved pain management access
Advocate for regulatory frameworks that enable adequate animal pain treatment
Encourage research into non-opioid pain management alternatives
Ensure your own animals receive adequate analgesia when needed