When pain is expected, which analgesia approach is recommended?

• A. Use lidocaine nerve block to prevent acute surgical pain and consider NSAID therapy
• B. Rely on sedation only
• C. Use NSAIDs alone without a nerve block
• D. Do nothing

Answer: (A)

Anticipating pain calls for a proactive, multimodal approach that targets different pathways of pain. A lidocaine nerve block provides regional anesthesia by blocking nerve transmission from the surgical site, which reduces intraoperative nociceptive input and lowers postoperative pain. Pairing this with NSAID therapy adds anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects that help manage pain after the procedure, complementing the nerve block and decreasing the need for other analgesics. Together, they offer more effective and balanced pain control than relying on a single method.

Relying on sedation alone doesn’t deliver analgesia; it can mask pain signs without actually relieving the animal’s discomfort, risking poor welfare. NSAIDs alone may help with inflammation but don’t block the nerve signals during surgery, so some pain can still be perceived. Doing nothing leaves the animal in pain, which is both unethical and detrimental to recovery.