Reducing postoperative pain for dogs: Local anesthetic and analgesic techniques

Balanced anesthesia decreases the amount of any one drug being used. Local analgesic techniques can provide sustained analgesia and decrease the required doses of general anesthetic and systemic analgesic. Reducing the use of systemic drugs minimizes respiratory and cardiovascular depression. This article discusses the mechanisms of action of local analgesics and opioids and describes techniques for regional analgesia of the thorax (intercostal and intrapleural administration of analgesics), forelimb (brachial plexus block), and hindquarters (epidural or spinal block).