Companion Animals

Dog Perioperative Pain Management

Pain management before, during and after surgery is a fundamental welfare obligation for dogs, and multimodal protocols significantly improve recovery outcomes.

Key Facts

Pre-operative opioids and NSAIDs reduce intraoperative anaesthetic requirements and post-operative pain
Local anaesthetic nerve blocks extend analgesia beyond anaesthetic duration
Pain assessment using validated scales guides post-operative analgesia decisions
Under-treatment of post-operative pain delays recovery and increases complication risk
Owner education on recognising pain at home ensures continued analgesia compliance

Welfare Considerations

Perioperative pain management is a non-negotiable welfare standard in veterinary medicine. Multimodal protocols tailored to the individual patient achieve the best outcomes.

What You Can Do

Ask your vet about their perioperative pain management protocol before any planned procedure
Learn to use a validated pain assessment scale to monitor your dog post-operatively
Request a follow-up pain assessment if you are concerned your dog is uncomfortable after surgery