Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory analgesics. Indications and contraindications for pain management in dogs and cats.

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory analgesics (NSAIAs) are effective in controlling most acute and chronic pain conditions. In veterinary practice these analgesics may be superior to opioids in that the duration of action is much longer, with equal efficacy in many instances, making effective pain management possible for most veterinary patients. NSAIAs act synergistically in combination with other modalities of pain management, including all opioids, local anesthetics, and various sedatives. Because of their mechanism of action, however, there is a potential for perturbation of several homeostatic functions mediated by prostaglandins. Not all NSAIAs are equal in efficacy and safety, so careful patient and NSAIA selection with appropriate monitoring is advised. This article discusses the indications and contraindications for NSAIA use with a short description of the currently available NSAIAs approved for use in veterinary patients.