Pain and discomfort during interventions

Tranquilizers (neuroleptics) with an opioid analgesic can be used to produce neuroleptanalgesia, a state of psychic indifference to environmental stimuli, without loss of consciousness.

In horses, neuroleptanalgesia is used to provide sedation and analgesia, when it is not possible or advisable to completely anesthetize the patient, neuroleptanalgesia can be used to sedate the horse, making it oblivious to pain while still standing.

In dogs, neuroleptanalgesia is one of the most common methods of sedation for performing minor procedures and to avoid stress and struggling. Neuroleptanalgesia is also commonly used in dogs prior to a general anesthetic to reduce stress, contribute to the analgesic effect and reduce the dose of anesthetic required.