Analgesia in small mammals

Small mammals should be provided with effective pain relief whenever indicated. Veterinarians must first familiarize themselves with the normal behavioral characteristics of these less common species to develop techniques for assessing the presence and severity of pain. After knowledgeable assessment of the degree of pain, appropriate analgesic medication, either opioids, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), or local anesthetics, should be administered. Although information about safe and effective dose rates is limited, data from a variety of sources can be used to develop appropriate analgesic regimens. Clinical experience indicates that analgesics can be used successfully in small mammals, both to alleviate acute postoperative pain and to control chronic pain. Copyright (C) 1998 by W. B. Saunders Company.