Feline Neuropathic Pain

Abstract

Neuropathic pain represents the extreme in maladaptive pain processing. In itself, it is a disease in which pain has become exaggerated in some combination of scope, severity, character, field, duration, and spontaneity. It is almost certainly an underappreciated, underdiagnosed cause of possible significant patient morbidity in cats. This article explores the basic mechanisms, recognition, known and suspect syndromes, and prospective treatment of feline maladaptive and neuropathic pain.

Keywords: Feline; Hypersensitization; Maladaptive; Neuropathic pain; Neuroplasticity; Peripheral/Central nervous system; Sensitization; Windup.