What Are the Ethical Aspects of Treating Pain in Animals?

Treating pain is a veterinary professional's ethical job, says Alison Gottlieb, BS, CVT, VTS (ECC), ICU veterinary nurse and education coordinator for CARES (Center for Animal Referral and Emergency Services).

"As far as the ethics in pain goes, #1 it's our job. I feel like it's my job as a nurse to take care of animal's pain. Number 2 is we've taken these animals into our home, we've domesticated them, and as the brilliant doctor Bernard Rollin says that, "we've adopted them as pets and we can't let them suffer" it's not right. They don't want to live as long as they can, they want to live comfortably and pain free. So, treating pain is our ethical job. If we're not doing it we're not doing our job."