This was bothering me in the car on the way to the fair (a blog about which will be forthcoming).
When I was on surgery (and it will be the same when I go onto soft tissue upon my return) everything got a fairly long course of pain medications after surgery. They got some carprofen (an anti-inflammatory) and tramadol (a watered down version of morphine). When asked what my pain management plan, I blindly would answer carprofen and tramadol at x dose for y days. It was standard. We COULD deviate from it but would have to explain it in rounds and it was just easier not to.
I started wondering however, if sometimes, no pain management is the best pain management.
I'm not saying that I want an animal to suffer. If they are in obvious pain, then give them something because its like part of our oath and all that. But how do we really know if they are in any pain, if they have been recieving pain medications?
Additionally, sometimes, I feel like if you want an animal to remain calm after surgery, then the best thing to do is make sure it feels too crappy to run about. Lots of people say that racehorses are doped up on pain killers like banamine (an NSAID) and are ran through the pain because they don't feel it. And then are injuried worse. Okay, that's a poor example.
What about dogs with orthopedic surgeries? I think that keeping them in mild pain would be a good way to keep them calm. Or the even better example are the elective spays. Not that spays should be elective. All dogs and cats should be spayed. Anyway, there is always that story of someone that didn't keep the puppy kenneled up and the puppy played to hard and its stiches popped out. And out behind its stiches came its guts and then the dog proceeded to eat its own intestines. If I have to choose between a dog in mild pain that remains calm and quiet versus a dog that has eaten its own intestines, I know which one I'm choosing. When Riley was spayed, she didn't get an ecollar or any pain meds. Her guts didn't come spilling out on the floor.
And you can argue, wouldn't you want some pain medication if you had surgery? If you had your lady bits ripped out? I would if a student did it which is why possibly in the hospital unless I'm really good or something, my spays will get meds. But the other difference is that if I am told to lie on the couch and take it easy, I will, even if I feel good. A dog will not. Hence, a little pain goes a long way.
Of course, like people, some animals have different tolerances to pain and we should judge this accordingly. It shouldn't be some cookbook recipe according to surgery and size adding in days. It should be tailored for that particular animal. If that means a little trial and error, then thats what it takes. Some dogs (Jersey) are just drama queens anyway.
I've yet to have the balls to suggest this but on soft tissue, in particular after any elective surgery (including a spay), I'm going to ask about it. Not necessarily suggest it as my plan, just ask. Afterall, I'm being graded.
[EDIT-Originally posted to Blogger on 7/10/11]
When I was on surgery (and it will be the same when I go onto soft tissue upon my return) everything got a fairly long course of pain medications after surgery. They got some carprofen (an anti-inflammatory) and tramadol (a watered down version of morphine). When asked what my pain management plan, I blindly would answer carprofen and tramadol at x dose for y days. It was standard. We COULD deviate from it but would have to explain it in rounds and it was just easier not to.
I started wondering however, if sometimes, no pain management is the best pain management.
I'm not saying that I want an animal to suffer. If they are in obvious pain, then give them something because its like part of our oath and all that. But how do we really know if they are in any pain, if they have been recieving pain medications?
Additionally, sometimes, I feel like if you want an animal to remain calm after surgery, then the best thing to do is make sure it feels too crappy to run about. Lots of people say that racehorses are doped up on pain killers like banamine (an NSAID) and are ran through the pain because they don't feel it. And then are injuried worse. Okay, that's a poor example.
What about dogs with orthopedic surgeries? I think that keeping them in mild pain would be a good way to keep them calm. Or the even better example are the elective spays. Not that spays should be elective. All dogs and cats should be spayed. Anyway, there is always that story of someone that didn't keep the puppy kenneled up and the puppy played to hard and its stiches popped out. And out behind its stiches came its guts and then the dog proceeded to eat its own intestines. If I have to choose between a dog in mild pain that remains calm and quiet versus a dog that has eaten its own intestines, I know which one I'm choosing. When Riley was spayed, she didn't get an ecollar or any pain meds. Her guts didn't come spilling out on the floor.
And you can argue, wouldn't you want some pain medication if you had surgery? If you had your lady bits ripped out? I would if a student did it which is why possibly in the hospital unless I'm really good or something, my spays will get meds. But the other difference is that if I am told to lie on the couch and take it easy, I will, even if I feel good. A dog will not. Hence, a little pain goes a long way.
Of course, like people, some animals have different tolerances to pain and we should judge this accordingly. It shouldn't be some cookbook recipe according to surgery and size adding in days. It should be tailored for that particular animal. If that means a little trial and error, then thats what it takes. Some dogs (Jersey) are just drama queens anyway.
I've yet to have the balls to suggest this but on soft tissue, in particular after any elective surgery (including a spay), I'm going to ask about it. Not necessarily suggest it as my plan, just ask. Afterall, I'm being graded.
[EDIT-Originally posted to Blogger on 7/10/11]
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