Anesthesiology, Pain Relief and Recovery

About the Pain Service

Classically, anesthesiologists have focused on perioperative or surgical care, safely maintaining the vital functions of the body and relieving pain associated with more invasive procedures. However, today's veterinary anesthesiologists also function as intricate leaders of a pain service team including surgeons, oncologists, internal medicine specialists, veterinary technicians, and physical therapists. With their combined expertise, they work together to identify causes of pain in our animal patients, tailoring a plan for the most effective treatment of a particular pain problem for animals in surgery and for outpatients as well. The section of Anesthesiology at the Cornell University Hospital for Animal has always been committed to prudent perioperative care for both large and small animals, lab animals, and zoo patients/wildlife including acute and intensive pain management. In New York State, the term "Physical Therapy" is a protected term implying only licensed and registered physical therapist will provide physical therapy service to humans only. As such, this website uses the terms "animal rehabilitation", "physical rehabilitation" and "veterinary rehabilitation" to note that these diagnostic and therapeutic approaches are utilized in the veterinary patient by our trained and certified doctors and technicians.

By virtue of recent staff additions as well as a refocusing and expansion of our clinical activities, the Cornell Comparative Pain Medicine Program encompasses this unique initiative to acknowledge, prevent, and treat pain in our animal patients. The Cornell Comparative Pain Medicine Program (CCPMP) is dedicated to improving the understanding and treatment of pain in animals through education (veterinary students, residents, graduate students, referring veterinary practitioners, and the public), and through the efforts of a multidisciplinary clinical team serving not only surgical but also outpatient and chronic medical needs of the Cornell University Hospital for Animals (CUHA) patients. The CCPMP is also dedicated to improving our understanding of the clinical and basic neurobiology of pain through collaborative research. It is our ultimate goal to improve the treatment of pain in animals and people through the study of naturally occurring painful conditions of animal patients brought to the Cornell University Hospital for Animals for treatment.

Organization of the Comparative Pain Service

The clinical branch of the CCPMP is known as the Animal Pain Management Service. This service operates in the large and small animal hospitals, wildlife clinic, and ambulatory service to:

Coordinate efforts of pre-existing services, especially Imaging, Behavior, Internal Medicine, Oncology, and Neurology, towards the resolution of animal pain and suffering
Recognize, prevent, and treat both acute and chronic pain in companion animals, equine patients, farm animals and laboratory species using established and innovative pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic methods.
Raise the awareness of pain as a significant veterinary health problem and an area of unmet medical need within the animal population
Improve standards of pain assessment and define goals for therapeutic outcomes
Establish basic and clinical science research programs aimed at discovering causes of pain and more effective treatments for pain via our research branch of service, the Laboratory for Comparative Pain Research
Create integrative training programs for interns, residents, and students directed toward translating research discoveries into clinical applications, and clinical pain problems into research questions

Pain medicine has become a multidimensional specialty within both human and veterinary medicine. It is the goal of the Cornell Comparative Pain Medicine Program to harness the best diagnostic and therapeutic options within both large and small animal medicine and surgery; by coupling these with sound research and cutting edge technology/advancements, we can help improve your pet's quality of life.

This site does not provide medical advice.

The contents of this web site, such as text, graphics, images and information are for informational purposes only. The content on these pages is not intended in any way to be used as a substitute for visiting your veterinarian or otherwise seeking professional advice. Always seek the professional opinion of a veterinarian for any medical condition your animal may exhibit. And never ignore a professional opinion because of something you have read on this website.

Our animal pain management team includes the following individuals: