Treatment of Pain in Reptiles

Kurt K Sladky

doi:10.1016/j.cvex.2022.07.004

Treatment of Pain in Reptiles

Vet Clin North Am Exot Anim Pract. 2023 Jan;26(1):43-64. doi: 10.1016/j.cvex.2022.07.004.

Author

Kurt K Sladky¹

Affiliation

¹ University of Wisconsin-Madison, School of Veterinary Medicine, 2015 Linden Drive, Madison, WI 53705 USA. Electronic address: kurt.sladky@wisc.edu.

PMID: 36402488
DOI: 10.1016/j.cvex.2022.07.004

Abstract

This chapter provides an overview of our current understanding of clinical analgesic use in reptiles. Currently, μ-opioid agonist drugs are the standard of care for analgesia in reptiles. Reptile pain is no longer considered a necessary part of recovery to keep the reptile from becoming active too early. Rather, treating pain allows for the reptile to begin normalizing their behavior. This recognition of pain and analgesia certainly benefits our reptile patients and greatly improves reptile welfare, but it also benefits our students and house officers, who will carry the torch and continue to demand excellence in reptile medicine.

Keywords: Analgesia; Local anesthetics; NSAIDs; Opioids; Reptile.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Analgesia* / veterinary
Analgesics / therapeutic use
Animals
Pain Management / veterinary
Pain* / drug therapy
Pain* / veterinary
Reptiles

Substances

Analgesics