Neurobiology of anesthetic-surgical stress and induced behavioral changes in dogs and cats: A review

Abstract

The anesthetic-surgical stress response consists of metabolic, neuroendocrine, hemodynamic, immunological, and behavioral adaptations through chemical mediators such as the adrenocorticotropic hormone, growth hormone, antidiuretic hormone, cortisol, aldosterone, angiotensin II, thyroid-stimulating hormone, thyroxine, triiodothyronine, follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, catecholamines, insulin, interleukin (IL)-1, IL-6, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and prostaglandin E-2. Behavioral changes include adopting the so-called prayer posture, altered facial expressions, hyporexia or anorexia, drowsiness, sleep disorders, restriction of movement, licking or biting the injured area, and vocalizations. Overall, these changes are essential mechanisms to counteract harmful stimuli. However, if uncontrolled surgical stress persists, recovery time may be prolonged, along with increased susceptibility to infections in the post-operative period. This review discusses the neurobiology and most relevant organic responses to pain and anesthetic-surgical stress in dogs and cats. It highlights the role of stress biomarkers and their influence on autonomous and demeanor aspects and emphasizes the importance of understanding and correlating all factors to provide a more accurate assessment of pain and animal welfare in dogs and cats throughout the surgical process.

Analgesia e anestesia em gatos acometidos por fraturas e cirurgias ortopédicas: uma revisão

“…Cirurgias ortopédicas para estabilização de fraturas diversas e luxações articulares estão entre os três procedimentos cirúrgicos mais comuns em gatos (Ataide et al 2020). Há uma grande quantidade de trabalhos de pesquisa recentes sobre avaliação da dor em gatos (Belli, 2020;Moreira et al 2021;Hernández-Avalos et al, 2021), mas poucos consideravam as especificidades da lesão ortopédica e o procedimento cirúrgico. Muitos trabalhos de pesquisa abordando a analgesia e anestesia durante procedimentos ortopédicos em gatos (Robertson, 2020), mas as informações sobre as técnicas de avaliação e controle da dor são altamente fragmentadas.…”

Abandonment of dogs in Latin America: Strategies and ideas

“…Thus, schools and local, regional, and national veterinary associations, as well as independent veterinarians, must strive to publicize these topics with regard to responsible pet ownership through multimedia channels and in conjunction with local governments, humanitarian societies, and citizen groups concerned with animal welfare. Only in this way will the message reach a much broader audience [114][115][116][117][118][119][120].…”

Clinical pharmacology of tramadol and tapentadol, and their therapeutic efficacy in different models of acute and chronic pain in dogs and cats

“…Analgesia is an essential aspect of veterinary patient care that prevents pathophysiological complications owing to pain, reduces the stress response during surgical procedures [ 1 ], and improves overall animal welfare [ 2 ]. To select an appropriate analgesic therapy, the etiology, type, severity, and chronicity of the process must be considered to prevent central and peripheral sensitization in response to a noxious stimulus [ 3 – 5 ].…”