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 .
Comparison of transdermal administration of fentanyl versus intramuscular administration of butorphanol for analgesia after onychectomy in cats.
OBJECTIVE To compare postoperative discomfort assessed by subjective pain score and plasma cortisol concentrations in cats undergoing onychectomy that received analgesia by use of transdermal fentanyl ( TDF ) patches or an i.m . injection of butorphanol . DESIGN R and omized prospect i ve clinical trial . ANIMALS 22 client-owned cats weighing 2.2 to 5 kg ( 4.84 to 11 lb ) undergoing onychectomy .  PROCEDURE Research ers were blinded to which cats received a TDF patch ( 25 microg/h ) 18 to 24 hours prior to surgery or an i.m . injection of butorphanol ( 0.2 mg/kg ( 0.09 mg/lb ] ) at the time of sedation , immediately following extubation , and at 4-hour intervals thereafter for 12 hours . Clinical variables , plasma cortisol concentration , and pain scores were evaluated and recorded 24 hours prior to surgery , at extubation , and 2 , 4 , 8 , 12 , 24 , 36 , and 48 hours after surgery . RESULTS The TDF group had a lower pain score than the butorphanol group only at 8 hours after surgery . Both groups had significantly lower mean plasma cortisol concentrations 0 , 24 , 36 , and 48 hours after surgery , compared with mean plasma cortisol concentrations prior to surgery . No significant differences in appetite or response to h and ling the feet were observed between the 2 groups . CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Our data did not reveal a difference in pain relief between administration of TDF and butorphanol .  Plasma cortisol concentrations were not different between groups . Fentanyl appeared to provide equivalent analgesia to butorphanol in cats undergoing onychectomy . The primary advantage of using a TDF patch is that repeated injections are not required
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 .