The BSAVA will be launching its new Guide to Pain Management in Small Animal Practice at Congress this year.

Billed as an essential reference, the new guide gives practical information on pain management in a wide range of small animals, emphasizing patient welfare and evidence-based medicine.

The BSAVA Guide to Pain Management in Small Animal Practice is edited by Ian Self, an RCVS and European Specialist in Veterinary Anaesthesia and Analgesia.

Each chapter is written by a specialist in the field, and the guide includes 'Authors’ perspectives' and case examples.

The first six chapters cover key areas in pain management, including the physiology of pain, acute and chronic pain, and pharmacological and physical treatment of pain. The remaining chapters look at specific types of pain, and pain in species commonly encountered in small animal practice.

Ian said: "This Guide is not to be seen as an instruction manual, rather a helping hand. For each case discussed and analgesic approach explained, there are multiple valid alternative approaches… when seeking inspiration or information when faced with a patient in pain, we hope that the information presented here will assist in reaching a satisfactory clinical outcome."

The new book will be given to eligible vet and vet nurse members free of charge as part of the Association's loyalty scheme; a 'thank you' for staying a member for another year. Further details are available from the member benefits section of the BSAVA website.

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