Not so silent signals: Recognizing and assessing pain in oncology patients
24 Oct 2025
Veterinary Insights Theatre
Oncology
Pain often is the primary cause for owner concern regarding quality of life for dogs and cats with cancer. Understanding the pathogenesis of pain in these patients is often as complex as the cancer disease itself, and quantifying pain can be extremely challenging. In this section we will evaluate objective methods in assessing pain, primarily in dogs, potential treatments and limitations in the oncological patient.
- Develop a general understanding of the types of pain seen in dogs and cats with cancer
- Become more confident in recognising pain in cancer patients, and an appreciation of how to objectively quantify pain and quality of life
- Become aware of types of pain scales in dogs and briefly discuss the treatments of pain along with different adjunct modalities that may be used if the cancer progresses.