Evolving Trends in Pain Management for Surgical Procedures in Small Animals

A special issue of Animals (ISSN 2076-2615). This special issue belongs to the section "Companion Animals".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 August 2026 | Viewed by 1717

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
School of Veterinary Medicine, Small Animal Medicine and Surgery, St George’s University, True Blue, Grenada
Interests: veterinary medicine education and clinical practice; pain recognition and management; opioid-free anesthesia; ultrasound-guided locoregional anesthesia; anesthetic complications; patient safety; anesthesia equipment performance; mechanical ventilation in veterinary patients
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Guest Editor
Stansted Veterinary Specialists (SVS Vet Referral), Bishop's Stortford CM22 6PU, UK
Interests: companion animals; anesthesia; veterinary and clinical practice; ultrasound-guided locoregional anesthesia; patient safety; anesthesia equipment

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue aims to explore recent developments and innovations in pain management for surgical procedures in small animals, including companion species such as dogs, cats, and other small mammals. Effective pain control is essential for promoting animal welfare, optimizing recovery, and improving surgical outcomes. Advances in anesthesia techniques, analgesic protocols, and pain assessment tools have greatly enhanced our ability to manage perioperative pain in these species. However, challenges remain around standardizing pain assessment, individualizing analgesic plans, and balancing efficacy with safety. This Special Issue will focus on both clinical and research-based approaches to evolving the practices of small animal perioperative pain management.

Dr. Hamaseh Tayari
Dr. Ricardo Felisberto
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • small animal surgery
  • pain management
  • analgesia
  • locoregional anesthesia
  • perioperative care

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

20 pages, 4980 KB  
Article
Multimodal Analgesia Provides Superior Postoperative Pain Control Following Orthopedic Surgery in Small-Breed Dogs
by Seung-Hyun Kim, Seungjo Park and Chun-Sik Bae
Animals 2026, 16(6), 878; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani16060878 - 11 Mar 2026
Viewed by 1418
Abstract
Effective pain control after orthopedic surgery is essential in veterinary practice, particularly in small-breed dogs with low physiological reserves. This study aimed to compare the analgesic efficacy and tolerability of five postoperative pain protocols across nine surgical procedures. A retrospective analysis was conducted [...] Read more.
Effective pain control after orthopedic surgery is essential in veterinary practice, particularly in small-breed dogs with low physiological reserves. This study aimed to compare the analgesic efficacy and tolerability of five postoperative pain protocols across nine surgical procedures. A retrospective analysis was conducted in 205 small-breed dogs (≤7 kg) undergoing orthopedic surgeries. Dogs were assigned to one of five analgesic protocols: (A) carprofen, (B) tramadol–lidocaine–ketamine continuous-rate infusion, (C) butorphanol continuous-rate infusion, (D) hydromorphone continuous-rate infusion, and (E) multimodal analgesia combining local anesthetics, hydromorphone, and meloxicam. Pain was assessed at 6, 12, 24, 48, and 72 h using the Glasgow Composite Measure Pain Scale—Short Form. Analgesic efficacy was evaluated using pain trajectories, area-under-the-curve analysis, and pain resolution rates, and adverse effects were recorded. Dogs receiving multimodal analgesia achieved the most rapid and sustained pain relief, with all patients reaching pain resolution by 48 h. Hydromorphone alone showed comparable efficacy but was associated with more adverse effects, while tramadol–lidocaine–ketamine showed delayed pain relief and the highest rate of severe side effects. Multimodal analgesia provides superior pain control with acceptable safety in small-breed dogs undergoing orthopedic surgery, supporting its use based on surgical invasiveness and individual patient response. Full article
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