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Pain in other exotic pets

Jenna Richardson and Kevin Eatwell

Alleviating pain in exotic species is often
overlooked, or the extent of pain is
underestimated. However, the level of
veterinary care provided to species such as
rodents and reptiles is increasing, led by both
client expectations and increased veterinary
awareness and training. In the same manner as
with canine and feline patients, the level of
analgesia provided to exotic pets should
match the severity of the injury or disease
process and the complexity of the procedures Rodent and reptile species often do not
being undertaken. 3 display overt signs of pain.
Rodents and reptiles hide clinical signs of © Jenna Richardson
pain very well and so are often presented to exotic species. A good starting point when
when chronic diseases have reached the point considering appropriate analgesia in exotic
of displaying acute clinical signs igure 7. . species is to identify the level of analgesia that
he side e ects of analgesics can be would be provided to a canine patient with a
overestimated in exotic patients and this is similar disease process. Doses for the
often used as the clinical reasoning behind not commonly used analgesics in exotic species
providing adequate pain relief. Identifying can be found in the BSAVA Small Animal
appropriate dosing regimens can also be Formulary – Part B: Exotic Pets.
di cult and the dosages used in dogs and cats Owner and animal compliance, as well as
are generally insu cient for those species with method of administration, are important factors
high metabolic rates such as rodents or risk to consider when creating a therapeutic regime.
overdosing those species with low metabolic Most agents are not licensed for use
rates such as reptiles . It is important to reali e in exotic animal species and the client must
that the full range of analgesics that can be give informed consent for their use. It is also
used in other species can generally be applied important to ensure movement of painful

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

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