FUNCTIONAL NEUROANATOMY OF NOCICEPTION IN DOGS AND CATS: CENTRAL AND PERIPHERAL MECHANISMS AND ADVANCES IN MULTIMODAL ANALGESIA

Abstract

Nociception is a complex neurophysiological process responsible for detecting, transmitting, and modulating potentially harmful stimuli, playing a fundamental role in preserving the physical integrity of dogs and cats. This study aimed to analyze the functional neuroanatomy of nociception in dogs and cats, emphasizing the central and peripheral mechanisms involved in pain perception and advances related to multimodal analgesia in veterinary medicine. This is an integrative literature review with a qualitative, exploratory, and descriptive approach, conducted between February and March 2026 using the ScienceDirect, Frontiers, and Wiley Online Library databases. Articles published between 2016 and 2026 in Portuguese and English were included, resulting in a final sample of 15 studies. The findings demonstrated that nociceptive transmission involves peripheral nociceptors, ascending spinal pathways, thalamic structures, and cortical regions associated with pain perception and modulation. Furthermore, significant participation of neuroinflammatory, emotional, and neurochemical mechanisms in central and peripheral sensitization was observed. The studies also demonstrated relevant advances in multimodal analgesia, including regional anesthesia, gabapentinoids, cannabinoids, and neural modulators, promoting greater analgesic efficacy and reducing pain chronicity. It is concluded that understanding the functional neuroanatomy of nociception significantly contributes to improving therapeutic strategies and promoting animal welfare in small animal clinical practice.