Pain Management:
Personalized and Appropriate
September is Pain Awareness Month and a good opportunity to discuss our approach to pain control here at Burleson Animal Emergency Hospital. It’s been proven over and over again, that the appropriate use of analgesics always improves outcomes, and patients whose pain is frequently assessed and well-managed recover faster. 

We utilize multimodal pain management for our patients, incorporating analgesics, anesthetics, and anxiolytics as indicated, alongside non-pharmacological therapies and treatments that have been shown to assist in decreasing pain and expedite healing.

Our pain management preferences include:

  • Analgesics: We commonly use opiates. In cases of severe pain and/or post-operative management, opiates are frequently utilized in CRIs with other agents such as lidocaine and ketamine. For patients that do not have conditions contra-indicating the use of NSAIDS, opiates are used in combination with NSAIDS for maximum effectiveness.

  • Anesthetics: Local anesthetics are typically incorporated at the time of surgery to improve postoperative analgesia, and possibly decrease the need for general anesthetics. Intercostal nerve blocks are especially helpful in managing patients with thoracic trauma. 

  • Anxiolytics: Stress and anxiety are detrimental to the healing process. Anxiolytics keep patients calm, helping to decrease wound healing time and minimize complications.

  • Complementary therapies: Shown to decrease pain and healing time, the therapies we use in conjunction with analgesics include cold laser treatments, chiropractic care, acupuncture, hydrotherapy, warm packing, massage, and physical therapy.
Every patient receives a personalized pain management protocol incorporating those modalities that will be most effective for their comfort and recovery. We continually monitor and assess treatment responses in each patient, and adjust therapies accordingly. Prior to release, patients are carefully weaned off CRIs and injectable medications to transition them onto oral medications suitable for home care. 

Pet owners receive detailed, in-depth instructions upon their pet’s release. These instructions include information about all medications, what to expect as their pet recovers, and techniques to utilize at home. We also discuss how to recognize the signs of pain in their pet, so changes may be made to their therapies quickly if necessary.  
If you have further questions about our approach to pain management, or if we may assist you or your clients, please do not hesitate to contact us anytime at 817.900.2000.
12600 South Fwy | Burleson, TX 76028
burlesonanimaler.com | 817.900.2000