Evaluation of an indirect NaV1.7 inhibitor as adjunctive analgesic in burn-related neuropathic pain in a cat

Burn-related neuropathic pain (BRNP) can arise following burn-induced nerve damage, affects approximately 6% of burned human patients and can result in chronic pain. Although widely studied in humans, data on BRNP or its treatment in animals is lacking. A 4-year-old domestic shorthair cat was presented with an infected, non-healing wound suspected to be a caustic burn. Initial treatments included surgical debridement, antimicrobials, and corticosteroids, but the cat developed persistent pruritus leading to self-inflicted trauma. Despite various interventions, including prednisone, chloramphenicol and cyclosporine, clinical signs persisted, leading to a referral for suspected BRNP. Additional support for neuropathic pain was provided through thermal sensitivity testing and applying a modified Neuropathic Pain dine, and acupuncture yielded little improvement, prompting an increasing escalation in gabapentin dosage. The cat was then treated with gabapentin compounded with compound neuropathic pain in animals.