Studies were primarily related to the assessment of pain in relation to surgical procedures , and no clear distinction was made concerning the onset of acute and chronic pain .
The metrics used within the tools appeared to focus primarily on the sensory aspect of pain , with no study clearly discriminating between the sensory and affective components of pain .
Objectives The objectives were to review systematic ally the range of assessment tools used in cats to detect the behavioural expression of pain and the evidence of their quality ; and to examine behavioural metrics ( considering both the sensory and affective domains ) used to assess pain .
Evaluation of transdermal fentanyl patches for analgesia in cats undergoing onychectomy.
OBJECTIVE To evaluate efficacy and safety of using transdermal fentanyl patches ( TFP ) for analgesia in cats undergoing onychectomy . DESIGN R and omized controlled clinical trial . ANIMALS 45 client-owned cats weighing > or = 2.7 kg ( 5.9 lb ) undergoing onychectomy , onychectomy and ovariohysterectomy , or onychectomy and castration .  PROCEDURE Cats were r and omly assigned to be treated with a TFP ( 25 micrograms/h ) or butorphanol ; TFP were applied a minimum of 4 hours before surgery ( approx 8 hours prior to extubation ) . Rectal temperature , heart rate , respiratory rate , force applied by the forelimbs , and serum fentanyl concentration were measured , and temperament , recovery , degree of sedation , severity of pain , severity of lameness , and appetite were scored before and periodically for up to 40 hours after surgery . RESULTS Cats treated with a TFP had better recovery scores at 2 of 4 evaluation times , lower sedation scores at 2 of 8 evaluation times , and lower pain scores at 6 of 8 evaluation times , compared with cats treated with butorphanol . Use of a pressure-sensitive mat to evaluate force applied by the forelimbs did not reveal any differences between groups but did reveal a significant difference between preoperative and postoperative values . Mean + /- SD serum fentanyl concentrations were 1.56 + /- 1.08 , 4.85 + /- 2.38 , 4.87 + /- 1.56 , and 4.35 + /- 2.97 ng/ml approximately 8 , 24 , 32 , and 48 hours , respectively , after TFP placement . CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Results suggest that use of a TFP ( 25 micrograms/h ) for postoperative analgesia in cats undergoing onychectomy with or without surgical sterilization is safe and effective
Studies were primarily related to the assessment of pain in relation to surgical procedures , and no clear distinction was made concerning the onset of acute and chronic pain .
The metrics used within the tools appeared to focus primarily on the sensory aspect of pain , with no study clearly discriminating between the sensory and affective components of pain .
Objectives The objectives were to review systematic ally the range of assessment tools used in cats to detect the behavioural expression of pain and the evidence of their quality ; and to examine behavioural metrics ( considering both the sensory and affective domains ) used to assess pain .