VTNE Plan

Pain Management and Analgesia: practice questions

2 original questions · 2 editor-approved · every choice explained.

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Blueprint-mapped questions with full rationales for every choice.

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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?

  1. ANausea from the anaesthetic that requires an antiemetic instead
  2. BNormal postoperative behaviour, since the cat is still eating willingly
  3. CLikely pain, since hunching and reduced grooming are feline pain behaviours
  4. 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.
Pain Management and AnalgesiaDifficulty 3/5

Which patient factor is the strongest contraindication to an NSAID?

  1. AA mild elevation in liver enzymes noted on a routine screening panel
  2. BConcurrent administration of an opioid for multimodal pain control
  3. CAdvanced age alone in an otherwise healthy and well-hydrated patient
  4. DHypotension or dehydration, because renal perfusion depends on prostaglandins
Show answer and rationale

Correct: D. NSAIDs inhibit prostaglandins that maintain renal perfusion during hypotension, so a dehydrated or hypotensive patient is at real risk of renal injury. Opioid co-administration is standard multimodal practice.

  • A — Mild enzyme elevation warrants caution but is a weaker contraindication.
  • B — Opioids and NSAIDs are commonly combined deliberately.
  • C — Age alone is not a contraindication.

Primary references

  1. VTNE Candidate Information Handbook — American Association of Veterinary State Boards (AAVSB) · primary · retrieved 2026-09-22, verified 2026-09-22