Limited animal studies have been conducted and for many species there will be widely different published dosage schedules. Never extrapolate from human data, please consult with the veterinarian. Medical and veterinary reports suggest analgesics are most effective when administered prior to the painful stimulus, before the surgical incision and tissue manipulation. Analgesic drugs must be given at the proper initial dose and subsequent doses must be given according to schedule. Opioid agonist-antagonists are effective against mild to moderate visceral and somatic pain.
Neurogenic pain is pain which arises from damaged nerves or from amputation.
This pain is difficult to treat and rarely responds well to any of the drugs listed above. Controlled substances must never be left unattended since the potential for theft and misuse of these drugs is high. In the past, the DEA allowed some latitude in research facilities and did not closely observe who exactly administered these drugs to the research animal. This is no longer true. Therefore, each investigator with a DEA license must personally supervise the administration of these drugs .