The Neuropathic Pain in Animals

Abstract

Neuropathic pain, well characterized in humans, originate from a primary lesion or dysfunction of the nervous system (NS). Common symptoms and signs are spontaneous and evoked pain, allodynia, hyperalgesia, hyperpathia, autonomic dysfunction and sensory loss. The NS of cats and dogs is very similar to that of humans, thus the pathophysiological mechanisms of pain are likely to be identical. During surgery and in traumatic, inflammatory, neoplastic and metabolic disorders animals can present, like human beings, conditions affecting the NS and leading to neuropathic pain. Neuropathic pain is considerably more difficult to diagnose in animals, due to their incapacity to communicate verbally, thus observation of behavioural changes is often the most useful diagnostic tool. Once neuropathic pain is diagnosed, an appropriate therapy should be prescribed, instructing owners to assess the effect of therapy on behavior. Different classes of antalgic drugs should be considered, based on their mechanism of action in relation to the pathophysiology of pain.