Course will promote the importance of companion animal pain management.
Veterinary professionals are invited to register their interest for a new certificate in pain management which is being launched by the World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) with support from Zoetis.
The certificate will promote the importance of companion animal pain management as a discipline, and give individuals an internationally recognised qualification in the subject for the first time.
It is based on the updated Global Guidelines for the Recognition Assessment and Treatment of Pain that were released by the WSAVA Global Pain Council (GPC) at the end of 2022. The GPC says that despite rapid advances in pain management, pain in companion animals is underdiagnosed and undertreated.
The online course is available free of charge to all companion animal veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses/technicians and includes content that’s tailored to their different roles.
The course includes three modules that will be delivered via recorded lectures from members of the GPC and other global experts. The modules will cover:
- Understanding and assessing pain
- Preventing and treating pain
- Pain management in practice
Chair of the WSAVA Global Pain Council Dr Bea Monteiro said: “The new WSAVA Certificate in Pain Management will help veterinary professionals to understand the critical importance of pain management for companion animal health and welfare. It will show them how to assess pain using the latest knowledge of pain-related behaviors and validated pain scales. Finally, it will guide them in treating pain effectively, using the most appropriate drug and non-drug therapies, based on the availability of particular analgesics and other therapies in the region of the world in which they are in practice.
“The Certificate provides recognition to professionals advancing their knowledge on pain management. It is the next step in the Global Pain Council’s campaign to raise awareness of the importance of pain management and to support veterinary teams in diagnosing and treating it effectively – a development which will benefit companion animals around the world and the humans who gain so much from their companionship. We are grateful to Zoetis and the IVAPM for their support and hope that WSAVA members will enjoy the course we have created.”
Those who are interested in the new certificate can register their interest online.
Companies marketing medicines for small pets exempt from authorisation must submit their annual return to the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) by 30 November 2026.
