Pain Management and AnalgesiaDifficulty 2/5
A cat two days after surgery is eating but sits hunched and has stopped grooming. How should this be interpreted?
- ANausea from the anaesthetic that requires an antiemetic instead
- BNormal postoperative behaviour, since the cat is still eating willingly
- CLikely pain, since hunching and reduced grooming are feline pain behaviours
- DStress from hospitalisation that will resolve once the cat goes home
Show answer and rationale
Correct: C. Cats express pain through posture and withdrawal from normal behaviours such as grooming, often while continuing to eat. A validated feline pain score and a report for analgesia adjustment are indicated.
- B — Eating does not exclude significant pain in cats.
- D — Assuming stress delays analgesia the cat may need.
- A — Nausea usually reduces appetite, which is not the case here.