CNYACE Webinar: Topics in Pain Management & Hospice

Purrfecting Your Acute Pain Assessment Skills

Course Description: 

Our ability to assess acute pain in cats has improved greatly in recent years. By creating tools based on behaviors of non-painful and painful cats, careful validation and testing, we can be more objective. The Glasgow Composite Measure Pain Scale (GCMPS) uses observation and interaction to determine a pain score and provides a suggested intervention level. The Feline Grimace Scale involves scoring of 5 action units: 4 on the face plus the position of the head. It correlates well with the GCMPS, is a rapid screening tool and can be used when interaction is not possible, for example with unsocialized cats. Attendees will learn how to use these tools through the use of images and videos. New technology using artificial intelligence is being created to interpret facial expressions in cats.

Learning Objectives:

1. Understand how to assess acute pain in cats quickly and by harnessing new technology
2. Understand how to create an acute or chronic pain management plan for cats, including new-to-market treatments
3. Feel confident navigating the “last appointment” for a cat, including verbal priming and using different techniques if intravenous access is not possible.

What’s New in the Feline Pain Management Toolbox?

Course Description: 

This session will discuss why an appropriate combination of drugs and non-drug therapies must be used to manage acute (adaptive) pain to prevent the development of chronic (maladaptive) pain. Incorporating more local anesthetics – including long acting drugs - in patient plans is a good direction to move in as they provide complete analgesia. A new transdermal buprenorphine solution that provides analgesia for up to 4 days has been FDA approved.

Osteoarthritis is the number one cause of long-term pain in cats. There are no approved NSAIDs for long term use in the United States. New approaches to OA related pain are emerging including biological treatments such as feline specific anti-Nerve Growth Factor monoclonal antibodies. Long acting analgesic products put control into the veterinarians’ hands and circumvents the issue of non-compliance because cats are difficult to medicate at home.  Addressing fear and anxiety is an essential component of an analgesic treatment plan for acute or chronic pain as these aversive feelings exacerbate the animal’s pain experience.

Learning Objectives:

1. Understand how to assess acute pain in cats quickly and by harnessing new technology
2. Understand how to create an acute or chronic pain management plan for cats, including new-to-market treatments
3. Feel confident navigating the “last appointment” for a cat, including verbal priming and using different techniques if intravenous access is not possible.

The Last Appointment

Course Description: 

There are multiple steps involved in the euthanasia process and each one must be well coordinated. Communication within the team and between the team and owner is essential. Regardless of where the appointment takes place there are some simple tips to create the best possible environment for the cat, owner and veterinary team. Pre-euthanasia sedation or anesthesia is strongly recommended, and attendees will learn which drugs, or drug combinations can be used, including non-injectable options. Attendees will learn about alternative routes for administration of euthanasia drugs if intravenous access is not possible.

Learning Objectives:

1. Understand how to assess acute pain in cats quickly and by harnessing new technology
2. Understand how to create an acute or chronic pain management plan for cats, including new-to-market treatments
3. Feel confident navigating the “last appointment” for a cat, including verbal priming and using different techniques if intravenous access is not possible.