Page 142 - BSAVA Guide to Pain Management in Small Animal Practice

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Dental pain

Cecilia Gorrel

Even in the presence of oral/dental disease it is likely to cause similar sensations in an a ected
rare for the dog or cat to stop eating. Usually, animal, include:
they will change their food preferences (e.g. an
animal will only eat soft food) or change the ■ Complications of periodontitis,
way they chew (e.g. chew selectively on one e.g. lateral periodontal abscess,
side). A common feedback from clients after toxic mucous membrane ulcers,
their pet has undergone a remedial dental gingivostomatitis
procedure is that the animal is brighter in ■ Pulp and periapical disease, e.g. acute
general, often showing more interest in pulpitis, periapical abscess, osteomyelitis
exercise and games than prior to treatment. ■ Traumatic injuries, including soft tissue
One can speculate that this frequently reported lacerations and jaw fracture.
change in behaviour after treatment is Dental procedures that we know are likely
attributable to the removal of chronic to cause postoperative pain in humans, and are
discomfort and pain. therefore likely to cause similar sensations in
It seems reasonable to assume that, like animals, include:
humans, dogs and cats experience discomfort
and pain when a icted by oral diseases and ■ Periodontal therapy, e.g. deep subgingival
after receiving treatment. In following this line of curettage
reasoning, overtreatment with analgesics may ■ Extraction, especially when extraction
occur, but the adverse consequences of this are sockets are left to heal by granulation.
minimal compared with the distress of
withholding pain relief. It is important to distinguish between
pre-emptive analgesia and alleviation of
postoperative pain. In other words, pre-emptive
Indications for analgesia analgesia may block sensitization, but it does
not eliminate postoperative pain; additional
Common conditions that are known to cause measures are still required to ensure a
discomfort and/or pain in people, and are thus comfortable recovery.

BSAVA Guide to Pain Management in Small Animal Practice. Edited by Ian Self. ©BSAVA 2019 137

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