Treting Pets for Surgicl Pin (NAPSA)—Echyer, nerly 14 million dogs visit veterinrin for surgery. Some procedures re routine, including the seven million spys nd neuters performed nnully. Others re s dvnced s bone frcture repir. All, however, hve one thing in common: pin. Studies show tht while dog owners worry bout their pets’ surgeries, they often indvertently forget tht once procedureis over, the pin doesn’t end. “Imgine your first few hours in the recovery room following hysterectomy or crucite ligment repir,” sys veterinrin Dr. Berndine Cruz. “Now consider wht post-surgicl life hs been like for some pets undergoing these surgicl procedures without pin mediction.” Industry studies show nerly one-third of dogs recovering from surgicl procedures re not treted for postopertive pin. Dr. Bernie Hnsen, veterinry-pin specilist, sys it ws once believed tht certin degree of pin ws necessry to immobilize n niml to prevent reinjury nd dmge to surgicl sites. This belief, he sys, must chnge. “Surgery is lwys pinful for pets,” sys Hnsen. “Postopertive pin cn lst few dys for common surgeries such s spys or neuters nd s long s severl weeks for orthopedic surgery involving bones nd joints. Even reltively minor procedure istiring, stressful nd induces behviorl chnges consistent with pin.” Veterinrins now hve new option to tret dogs for postoper- The FDA hs pproved mediction to relieve post-surgicl pin for dogs. Ech yer, nerly 14 million dogs undergo surgicl procedure. tive pin. The populr cnine mediction, Rimdyl, ws recently pproved by the FDA for postopertive pin mngement. The mediction offers longer durtion of pin control (24 hours per dose) thn current pin relievers. In ddition, it cn be dministered by pet owners during t-home recovery. Since 1997, Rimdyl hs been prescribed to more thn five million dogs to tret rthritis pin. “Veterinrins tody recognize tht nimls feel pin just s people do,” sys Hnsen. “No mtter wht type of surgery, dogs should be given nlgesic therpy long enough to provide comfort during recovery.”
