Underlying neurophysiological mechanisms of non-arthritic chronic painful conditions in cats

慢性疼痛会导致残疾，并对生活质量产生负面影响。它以类似的方式影响人类和猫，并可能成为一种长期的使人衰弱的疾病。猫的例子包括骨关节炎、猫牙龈炎-口炎复合体、间质性膀胱炎、糖尿病引起的慢性疼痛、手术后由于神经损伤和创伤引起的长期疼痛等。不幸的是，除了对骨关节炎的研究外，对猫慢性疼痛的其他/大多数原因的潜在疼痛机制知之甚少。例如，在加拿大和美国，这些动物可能会在切除每根手指的第三指骨后出现持续的术后疼痛。疼痛的症状包括慢性跛行、背部疼痛、不适当的排泄习惯、不愿走动、舔和咀嚼手指、厌恶被触摸的脚、以及长期的体重变化等。这些症状会导致痛苦、残疾和生活质量下降，并与大多数慢性疾病一样，成为这些猫的主要负担。此外，关于治疗这些疾病的资料几乎不存在。只有了解了疼痛的潜在机制，才有可能对慢性疼痛进行适当的治疗。迫切需要一项长期的研究计划来调查猫非骨关节炎慢性疼痛的这些机制及其负担，这是本提案的目的。这些机制将被发现使用无创的，新颖的，客观的测量疼痛阈值的猫自然发生的慢性疼痛疾病。疼痛负担将通过临床仪器（兽医基于问卷的评估）进行研究，该仪器测量活动能力，姿势等，客观测量和红外成像科学（检测炎症产生的辐射的热像仪）在不同镇痛方式治疗前后。该项目将由一个领先的猫科动物疼痛管理研究小组在一个刺激的研究训练环境中进行，并应产生最佳的治疗干预措施。这将对动物福利产生直接影响。

Chronic pain causes disability and has a negative impact on quality of life. It affects humans and cats in a similar manner and can become a long-term debilitating disease. Examples in cats include osteoarthritis, feline gingivitis-stomatitis complex, interstitial cystitis, diabetes-induced chronic pain, long-term pain after surgery due to nerve damage and trauma, among others. Unfortunately, with the exception of research on osteoarthritis, little is known about underlying pain mechanisms of other/most causes of chronic pain in cats. For example, these animals may present persistent post-surgical pain after onychectomy ("declawing"), the amputation of the third phalanx of each digit that is commonly performed in Canada and United States. Signs of pain include chronic lameness, back pain, inappropriate elimination habits, reluctance to ambulate, licking and chewing at the digits, aversion to the feet being touched, and long-term changes on weight bearing, among others. These signs lead to suffering, disability and reduced quality of life, and are a major burden to these cats as most of chronic conditions. Additionally, information on treatment for these conditions is almost inexistent. Appropriate treatment of chronic painful conditions is only possible once underlying mechanisms of pain are known. A long-term research program is urgently required to investigate these mechanisms of non-osteoarthritic chronic pain and its burden in cats, and it is the objective of this proposal. These mechanisms will be discovered using non-invasive, novel, objective measurements of pain thresholds in cats with naturally-occurring chronic painful disease. The burden of pain will be studied by using a clinical instrument (questionnaire-based assessment by veterinarian) that measure mobility, posture, among others, objective measurements and infrared imaging science (thermographic cameras that detect radiation produced by inflammation) before and after treatment with different analgesic modalities. This program will be conducted by a leading research group in feline pain management within a stimulating environment for research training and should yield optimal therapeutic interventions. It will produce an immediate impact to animal welfare.