Discovery of novel pain relieving approaches

We carefully collect and analyze blood and synovial fluid from pet dogs and cats with painful conditions to investigate what is actually causing the pain on a molecular level. Tissue samples are collected from pet animals with naturally occurring painful conditions to investigate neuronal changes that occur with chronic pain to discover unknown mechanisms and new pharmacological targets. The similarities in chronic pain conditions between dogs, cats and humans make these samples particularly useful for developing novel, effective, and safe therapeutics both in veterinary and human medicine.

Chronic pain in dogs: a model of human chronic pain

Naturally occurring osteoarthritis and osteosarcoma in pet dogs is very similar to the same conditions in humans. We study osteoarthritis and osteosarcoma in pet dogs as models of the human conditions, allowing us to both learn more about how to manage these painful conditions in dogs, and contribute to the development of non-opioid pain therapeutics in humans. We use a wide variety of validated subjective and objective outcome measures to assess putative analgesic drugs that may be developed for use. Watch this video where experts in the veterinary and human pain fields talk about how pets can contribute to human pain research and benefit themselves.

We have ongoing collaborative research with Dr Amanda Nelson at UNC Chapel Hill to investigate the link between multi-joint osteoarthritis and intestinal permeability in both humans and dogs. 

We also have ongoing collaborative research with Dr Gruen’s research group to to study the relationship between emotion, cognition and persistent pain.

We also carefully collect and analyze blood and tissue from pet dogs with painful conditions to understand what is actually causing the pain, and to develop novel, effective and safe therapeutics.

Evaluation of activity in dogs with osteoarthritis 

‘Wearable technology’ is a rapidly developing field, and may allow us to detect developing conditions, including pain, earlier. Such technology also has the potential to allow us to measure the impact of pain on overall activity, an animal’s ability to perform certain activities, and sleep quality, and of course to measure the benefit of therapeutics. We are actively working in this area to assess the utility of wearable technology in cats and dogs, and to develop ways to appropriately manage and interpret the data generated.

Chronic musculoskeletal pain in cats

It is estimated that approximately 45% of all cats (and over 90% of cats over 10 years of age) show signs associated with musculoskeletal (e.g. joint) pain, making it the most common condition in cats. Our team develops ways to measure the disease and pain so that we can test potential therapeutics, and unravels the causes of musculoskeletal pain in cats. We use many approaches to measuring the impact of pain in cats, including activity monitors worn on the collar in the home environment.