POSTOPERATIVE USE OF ANALGESICS IN DOGS AND CATS BY CANADIAN VETERINARIANS

Four hundred and seventeen Canadian veterinarians were surveyed to det ermine their postoperative use of analgesics in dogs and cats followin g 6 surgical procedures, and to determine their opinions toward pain p erception and perceived complications associated with the postoperativ e use of potent opioid analgesics. Three hundred and seventeen (76%) r eturned the questionnaire. The percentage of animals receiving analges ics postoperatively ranged from 84% of dogs and 70% of cats following orthopedic surgery to 10% of dogs and 9% of cats following castration. In general, with the exception of orthopedic surgery, roughly equal p ercentages of dogs and cats received postoperative analgesics. Opioids were used almost exclusively to provide postoperative analgesia, with butorphanol the most commonly administered drug to both dogs and cats . Analgesics were usually administered either once or twice postoperat ively. With regard to the administration of potent opioid agonists, th e 3 major concerns included respiratory depression, bradycardia, and s edation in dogs, and excitement, respiratory depression, and bradycard ia in cats. Seventy-seven percent of veterinarians considered their kn owledge of issues related to the recognition and control of postoperat ive pain to be inadequate. Experience in practice is currently the maj or source of knowledge, with undergraduate veterinary school and resea rch articles in journals ranked as the least important sources. Lectur es or seminars delivered at the regional level were the preferred form at for continuing education.