Companion Animal Welfare

Dog Welfare and Analgesia After Surgery

Post-operative pain management is a welfare priority for dogs. Multimodal analgesia and appropriate monitoring ensure dogs recover comfortably after surgical procedures.

Key Facts

Post-operative pain is a major welfare concern that is frequently undermanaged
Multimodal analgesia combining different drug classes provides better pain control
Owner monitoring at home is essential as pain may worsen after clinical discharge
Recognised pain scales including the Glasgow Composite Measure Pain Scale guide assessment
Simple behaviours including posture, demeanour, and reaction to palpation indicate pain

Welfare Considerations

Post-operative pain management is a welfare obligation. Adequate multimodal analgesia and owner monitoring ensure dogs recover with minimal suffering from surgical procedures.

What You Can Do

Discuss post-operative analgesia with your vet before any surgery
Monitor your dog carefully at home for signs of post-operative pain
Contact your vet if pain seems inadequately managed after discharge
Learn to use pain assessment guidelines for monitoring at home