ABSTRACT
Osteoarthritis is the most common cause of chronic pain in companion animals. A typical patient suffering from chronic pain is an older animal with a history of reluctance to rise, jump, or run. The pain may start as an occasional soreness or stiffness following vigorous activity. It usually progresses to daily discomfort and quality of life is affected. Pain associated with neoplasia is often under treated in veterinary medicine. Tumor growth is usually gradual and subtle changes in pain intensity are difficult to detect. A significant number of animals with lesions in and around nervous tissues suffer with neuropathic pain. Oral or transdermal opioids are useful in the treatment of pain accompanying intervertebral disk disease. Pain from chronic otitis media is a common condition. Animals that have undergone surgical removal of auricular tissue in an attempt to treat otitis often display intense distress following surgery. There are both acute and chronic components to their pain.
