Mechanisms of pain and their therapeutic implications

P ain is an everyday occurrence for humans and other animals, helping to protect against injury, but for some it is also a continuous relentless crippling sensory experience that causes suffering and distress. ] Veterinarians may not provide optimal analgesic therapy because of lack of familiarity with current therapeutic strategies, concerns regarding the potential for the development of drug-induced adverse effects (eg, anorexia and signs of depression) or toxicity (eg, gastric ulcers and liver or renal failure), and the need to comply with federally mandated regulations. Furthermore, pain may be considered to be temporary, secondary to a primary disease, or, if treated, may impose an economic burden (eg, swine castration). Comprehensive clinical data regarding the incidence, prevalence, and severity of pain in animals with naturally occurring diseases are quite sparse, making it difficult to identify target groups, prescribe or evaluate therapies, or provide guidelines for the optimization of wellness programs. 1] The approach uses objective behavioral analysis software that analyzes the frequency and duration of the animal' s position, posture, and specific activity within a confined space. This analysis in conjunction with select speciesspecific behaviors has promise for estimating the sever-