Analgesia

Analgesic efficacy of hydromorphone in American alligators (Alligator mississippiensis) (2025)

Background American alligators (Alligator mississippiensis) are maintained in zoos, aquaria, and farms for educational, research, and production purposes. The standard of veterinary medical care and welfare for captive reptiles requires managing pain and discomfort under conditions deemed painful in mammals....

Year Published: 2025Topics: AnalgesiaAnimal Type: Crocodile & Alligator, Reptile

Citation: Henke, S. E., Wester, D. B., Eversole, C. B. et al. 2025. Analgesic efficacy of hydromorphone in American alligators (Alligator mississippiensis). Frontiers in Veterinary Science 12.

A history of pain studies and changing attitudes to the welfare of crustaceans (2025)

Early discussions about possible pain in crustaceans often comprised speculation and anecdotes. Experiments to investigate pain took guidance from these early debates, and from studies on other taxa. Many experiments provided data that are consistent with the idea of pain....

Year Published: 2025Topics: Analgesia, Emotion, Pain, & SentienceAnimal Type: Crustacean, Invertebrate

Citation: Elwood, R. W. 2025. A history of pain studies and changing attitudes to the welfare of crustaceans. Animals 15(3), 445.

Testing perioperative meloxicam analgesia to enhance welfare while preserving model validity in an inflammation-induced seizure model

Despite the international effort to improve laboratory animal welfare through the 3R principles (Reduce, Refine, Replace), many scientists still fail to implement and report their assessment of pain and well-being, likely due to concerns regarding the potential effects of analgesics...

Year Published: 2024Topics: Analgesia, Disease/Experimental Model, Surgery & Post-OpAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Weiß, E., Pauletti, A., Egilmez, A. et al. 2024. Testing perioperative meloxicam analgesia to enhance welfare while preserving model validity in an inflammation-induced seizure model. Scientific Reports 14(1), 30563.

Does perioperative electroacupuncture reduce postoperative pain in dogs undergoing ovariohysterectomy?

Introduction: This study aimed to investigate the analgesic efficacy of perioperative electroacupuncture in fifty-six healthy female dogs undergoing ovariohysterectomy as part of a catch-neuter-release project. Materials and methods: Ten minutes after sedation with 20 μg/kg medetomidine combined with 0.3 mg/kg butorphanol intramuscularly,...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Analgesia, Surgery & Post-OpAnimal Type: Dog

Citation: Iwe, C., Schiele, A., Passenegg, V. et al. 2025. Does perioperative electroacupuncture reduce postoperative pain in dogs undergoing ovariohysterectomy? Frontiers in Veterinary Science 11.

A Retrospective Report of Carprofen Administration as Post-Operative Analgesia Reveals Negative Effects of Recommended Doses

Effective pain management in laboratory animals is crucial for both animal welfare and the reliability of scientific research. We retrospectively examined the effects of carprofen as post-operative analgesia in Sprague Dawley rats following stereotactic surgery. Our data indicate that administering...

Year Published: 2024Topics: AnalgesiaAnimal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Jäckel, Z., Adžemović, A., Kloos, B. et al. 2024. A Retrospective Report of Carprofen Administration as Post-Operative Analgesia Reveals Negative Effects of Recommended Doses. Animals 14(21), 3157.

Effectiveness, safety, and pharmacokinetics of meloxicam formulations in African-clawed frogs, Xenopus laevis

Pain management in amphibians is an emerging field of veterinary medicine with only a limited number of analgesics studied for their efficacy. The African-clawed frog, Xenopus laevis, is a popular animal model in research due to its oocyte morphology and...

Year Published: 2024Topics: AnalgesiaAnimal Type: Amphibian, Frog & Toad

Citation: Leung, G., Diaz, L. L., Monette, S. et al. 2024. Effectiveness, safety, and pharmacokinetics of meloxicam formulations in African-clawed frogs, Xenopus laevis. Comparative Medicine 74(5), 336–343.

Pharmacokinetics, fecal output, and grimace scores in rabbits given long-acting buprenorphine or fentanyl for postsurgical analgesia

The New Zealand white rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) is a frequently used surgical model. Pain management after surgery is a critical aspect of animal welfare. Recently, a long-acting buprenorphine formulation (Ethiqa XR; EXR) was approved for use in rats and mice...

Year Published: 2024Topics: AnalgesiaAnimal Type: Rabbit

Citation: Farkas, M. R., Dorn, S., Muller, L. et al. 2024. Pharmacokinetics, fecal output, and grimace scores in rabbits given long-acting buprenorphine or fentanyl for postsurgical analgesia. JAALAS 63(3), 303–309.

Pharmacokinetics of injectable meloxicam and buprenorphine in the naked mole-rat (Heterocephalus glaber)

Unique characteristics of the naked mole-rat (NMR) have made it increasingly popular as a laboratory animal model. These rodents are used to study many fields of research including longevity and aging, cancer, circadian rhythm, pain, and metabolism. Currently, the analgesic...

Year Published: 2024Topics: AnalgesiaAnimal Type: Other Rodent, Rodent

Citation: Moran, C. R., Park, T. J., Buffenstein, R. et al. 2024. Pharmacokinetics of injectable meloxicam and buprenorphine in the naked mole-rat (Heterocephalus glaber). JAALAS 63(5), 565–571.

Pharmacokinetics of extended-release buprenorphine and clinical efficacy for postoperative pain management in the domestic ferret (Mustela putorius furo)

Buprenorphine hydrochloride (Bup-HCl) is a common injectable opioid analgesic. In ferrets, Bup-HCl must be administered every 8 to 12 h to maintain clinical efficacy. Extended-release analgesics offer multiple advantages, including reduced handling and injection frequency, improved compliance, and increased protection...

Year Published: 2024Topics: AnalgesiaAnimal Type: Ferret

Citation: Plunkard, J. C. M., Jimenez, I. A., Tarwater, P. M. et al. 2024. Pharmacokinetics of extended-release buprenorphine and clinical efficacy for postoperative pain management in the domestic ferret (Mustela putorius furo). JAALAS 63(5), 552–564.

Pharmacokinetic evaluation of a topical extended-release analgesic in mice

Mice often undergo painful procedures and surgeries as part of biomedical research protocols. Buprenorphine, a partial μ-opioid receptor agonist and κ receptor antagonist, is commonly used to alleviate the pain associated with such procedures. Due to its pharmacokinetic profile, buprenorphine...

Year Published: 2024Topics: AnalgesiaAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Simmons, T., Hish, G., Martin, T. L. et al. 2024. Pharmacokinetic evaluation of a topical extended-release analgesic in mice. JAALAS 63(5), 581–586.