Episode 212: JFMS Special Collection - "Pain and Pain Management in Cats" curated by Dr. Mark Epstein

This month, we focus on the JFMS Special Collection titled “Pain and Pain Management in Cats”, curated by Dr. Mark Epstein. Dr. Epstein highlights for us what is included in the collection, currently which offers over 10 articles, with more to come, addressing a range of topics related to pain in felines. To quote Dr. Epstein directly: "All cats will experience pain in their lifetime, from a variety of different sources such as veterinary procedures, trauma, illness, oral disease, and osteoarthritis. Pain is also a frequent component that needs to be addressed in end-of-life care. Pain has negative impacts on welfare, morbidity, and even mortality; but thankfullly, great progress in feline pain management has been made over recent years." This collection aims to equip veterinary professionals with the tools to diagnose, manage, and prevent pain in their feline patients.

Key highlights from the collection include the 2022 ISFM Consensus Guidelines on Acute Pain Management, resources on neuropathic pain, including hyperesthesia and tail mutilation in "Neuropathic pain in cats: mechanisms and multimodal management," and the 2024 ISFM and AAFP Consensus Guidelines on the Long-term Use of NSAIDs in Cats. Additionally, there are studies on perioperative pain prevention, a video guide on recognizing acute pain behaviors in cats, and an evaluation of the use of the Feline Grimace Scale in kittens. This growing resource is a must-have for anyone involved in feline pain management, offering essential, evidence-based guidelines to improve feline care.