title: Current attitudes regarding the use of perioperative analgesics in dogs and cats by Brazilian veterinarians.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To correlate the demographic data of Brazilian veterinarians with their use of, attitudes towards, knowledge of and preference for continuing education regarding use of analgesics in small animal practice.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective survey.
  
  
  METHODS
  The questionnaire was composed of sections pertaining to demographics, personal data, use of analgesics in general and specific procedures, analgesia used, and attitudes towards the assessment and relief of pain. The descriptive statistics with frequency analysis was performed using sas for Windows 9.1.3. Chi-square for simple comparisons test was used.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Questionnaires were obtained from 1298 small animal veterinarians. Women and younger graduates attributed higher pain scores than men and older graduates but the frequency and duration of analgesic treatment did not differ between genders. The most commonly used opioids were tramadol (79%) and morphine (51%). NSAIDs of choice were meloxicam (81%) and ketoprofen (70%). Cats received lower pain scores for laparotomy, orchiectomy and dental procedures than dogs. Practical experience (64%) and national (47%) and regional meetings (43%) were the main sources of information for identifying and treating pain in small animals.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although the number of Brazilian veterinarians believed that their knowledge in the area was lower than in other countries, the focus in pain management was similar or higher than in other countries, showing a good attitude in pain relief in animals.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Surgery and Anesthesiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, UNESP - Univ Estadual Paulista, Botucatu, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Sílvia E R S
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Lorena
authors.forename: Stelio P L
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Luna
authors.forename: B Duncan X
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Lascelles
authors.forename: José E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Corrente
mesh_terms: D000700:Analgesics / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000827:Animal Welfare; D000818:Animals; D001938:Brazil; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002415:Cats; D003625:Data Collection; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000662:veterinary*; D019990:Perioperative Care / Q000662:veterinary*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D018634:Veterinarians
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics
keywords: NSAIDs; analgesia; analgesics; attitudes; opioids