Abstract- Preliminary study of intravenous ketamine infusions for the management of chronic pain in dogs

Abstract Summary

• Objective: To investigate the effectiveness of intravenous (IV) ketamine infusions for managing refractory chronic pain in client-owned dogs.

• Methods: Ten dogs with diagnoses including osteoarthritis, cervical radiculopathy, and intervertebral disc disease received IV ketamine infusions (0.2-0.5 mg/kg loading dose followed by a four-hour infusion at 8 mcg/kg/min) on days 1, 15, and 29.

• Measurements: Pain levels were assessed using veterinarian-recorded visual analogue scale (VAS) scores and owner-completed canine brief pain inventory (CBPI) scores at baseline and various follow-up points.

• Results: The study found that ketamine may be effective at reducing pain, as both VAS and CBPI scores decreased significantly compared to baseline at days 15, 29, and 57.

• Conclusion: The findings suggest that ketamine might be a valuable option for managing chronic pain in veterinary patients where standard treatments have failed. 

Internet Survey Evaluation of Iliopsoas Injury in Dogs Participating in Agility Competitions

• Researchers collected responses from over 4,000 agility-dog owners to learn more about how often iliopsoas (groin) injuries happen and what might make them more likely.

• About 7.8% of the dogs in the survey had experienced a reported iliopsoas injury.

• Some factors were linked to a higher risk of this injury:

  • Breed: Border Collies were more likely to have ileopsoas injuries.

  • Training methods: Dogs trained with the “2 × 2” weave-pole method had more risk.

  • Competition surface: Dogs competing on dirt or on artificial turf 6 or more times per year had higher risk.

  • Handler background: Dogs handled by veterinary assistants showed more injuries.

  • Interestingly, dogs not specifically bought for agility were less likely to be injured.

• Some things did not seem to affect injury risk:

  • How many days the dog competed.

  • Jump height.

• When dogs got injured:

  • 88% of them saw a vet.

  • 63% saw a specialist.

  • Common treatments included: rest, rehab at home, formal rehab, and some medications.

• Recovery times varied:

  • Most dogs (around 80%) returned to agility within 6 months.

  • A smaller number took longer, and a few eventually retired from competition.

• Why this matters:

  • Even though some factors (like breed) can’t be changed, others (training methods or choice of course surface) might be adjusted to lower risk.

  • Understanding risk and recovery helps dog owners and trainers make smarter decisions about training and injury prevention.

Use of Rehabilitation Therapy in Palliative Care Patients

Palliative care in pets isn’t about curing disease—it’s about keeping them comfortable and preserving their quality of life.

1. The authors recommend a “palliative rehabilitation” approach, which combines rehabilitation therapies with thoughtful pain management to help your pet stay functional, mobile, and as pain-free as possible.

2. By using a disablement model, vets and rehab professionals assess not just your pet’s disease, but how the illness affects everyday life—then tailor treatments to what matters most to you and your pet.

3. Rehab modalities—like physical therapy, gentle exercise, massage, and manual therapies—are particularly well-suited for palliative patients. These therapies help improve function, reduce pain, and support quality of life.

4. When combined with medications or other pain-relief methods, rehabilitation can often reduce the amount of drugs needed, lowering the risk of side effects.

5. This research also highlights client (pet owner) partnership: working closely with you to set goals, make decisions, and track meaningful improvements.

6. Ultimately, palliative rehab offers a very personalized and compassionate way to support pets with chronic or terminal illnesses—helping them stay active, comfortable, and connected to their families.

Acupuncture for analgesia in veterinary medicine

Acupuncture for analgesia is growing rapidly in popularity with veterinarians and pet owners. This article summarizes the mechanisms of analgesia derived from acupuncture and reviews current literature on the topic. Areas covered include the local effects at area of needle insertion, systemic effects secondary to circulating neurotransmitters and changes in cell signaling, central nervous system effects including the brain and spinal cord, and myofascial trigger point and pathology treatment. Clinical applications are discussed and suggested in each section. When used by appropriately trained professionals, acupuncture offers a compelling and safe method for pain management in our veterinary patients and should be strongly considered as a part of multimodal pain management plans.