Surgical procedures and pets
Surgical procedures cause pain to dogs, this includes “routine” procedures. Ovariohysterectomy (having a dog spayed), castration (having a dog neutered) and mammectomy are examples of surgical procedures which cause pain. In general, the greater the tissue trauma, the greater the pain.
Postoperative pain is an example of acute pain, the intensity of which depends on the area in the body. It can be particularly painful when it occurs in the head, eyes, chest as well as when it involves large joints or the dog’s abdomen. It is generally less severe when only the skin is involved.
Abdominal surgery generally produces more pain than superficial soft tissue surgery (where soft tissue refers to all softer parts of the body and excludes bones, teeth, claws, fur and cartilage). Orthopaedic procedures can cause severe and prolonged pain in your dog. Repeated surgeries may be more painful than the original surgery.
The veterinary surgeon will always use good surgical technique and cause minimal tissue damage to help alleviate pain in your pet.
Information sources
The American Animal Hospital Association/American Association of Feline Practitioners Pain Management Guidelines for Dogs & Cats, 2007
Handbook of veterinary pain management. James S. Gaynor, William W. Muir III. Mosby Elsevier, 2nd edition, 2009
Pain management in small animals. A manual for veterinary nurses and technicians. Debbie Grant. Butterworth Heinemann, 2006
