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The robust advances in pain management for companion animals underlie the decision of AAHA and AAFP to expand on the information provided in the 2007 AAHA/AAFP Pain Management Guidelines for Dogs and Cats. The 2015 guidelines summarize and offer a discriminating review of much of this new knowledge. Pain management is central to veterinary practice, alleviating pain, improving patient outcomes, and enhancing both quality of life and the veterinarian-clientpatient relationship. The management of pain requires a continuum of care that includes anticipation, early intervention, and evaluation of response on an individual-patient basis. The guidelines include both pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic modalities to manage pain; they are evidence-based insofar as possible and otherwise represent a consensus of expert opinion. Behavioral changes are currently the principal indicator of pain and its course of improvement or progression, and the basis for recently validated pain scores. A team-oriented approach, including the owner, is essential for maximizing the recognition, prevention, and treatment of pain in animals. Postsurgical pain is eminently predictable but a strong body of evidence exists supporting strategies to mitigate adaptive as well as maladaptive forms. Degenerative joint disease is one of the most significant and under-diagnosed diseases of cats and dogs. Degenerative joint disease is ubiquitous, found in pets of all ages, and inevitably progresses over time; evidencebased strategies for management are established in dogs, and emerging in cats. These guidelines support veterinarians in incorporating pain management into practice, improving patient care. (J Am Anim Hosp Assoc 2015; 51:67–84. DOI 10.5326/JAAHA-MS-7331) From the Total Bond Veterinary Hospitals PC, Gastonia, NC (M.E.); Cat Care Clinic and Feline-Friendly Consultations, Madison, WI (I.R.); Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Colorado State University School of Veterinary Medicine, Fort Collins, CO (G.G.); Pet Crossing Animal Hospital & Dental Clinic, Bloomington, MN (J.K.); Arbor Pointe Veterinary Hospital/Animal Pain Center, Canton, M.I. (M.P.); Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI (S.R.); and Morrisville Cat Hospital, Morrisville, NC (W.S.). Correspondence: mark.epstein@totalbondvets.com (M.E.) AAHA, American Animal Hospital Association; AAFP, American Association of Feline Practitioners; AE, adverse event; CKD, chronic kidney disease; CMI, clinical measurement instrument; CRI, constant rate infusion; COX, cyclooxygenase; DJD, degenerative joint disease; GI, gastrointestinal; LA, local anesthetic; MPS, myofascial pain syndrome; NSAID, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug; OA, osteoarthritis; PSGAG, polysulfated glycosaminoglycan; SS(N)RI, selective serotonin (norepinephrine) reuptake inhibitor; TCA, tricyclic antidepressant; QOL, quality of life *These guidelines were prepared by a task force of experts convened by the American Animal Hospital Association and the American Association of Feline Practitioners for the express purpose of producing this article. These guidelines are supported by a generous educational grant from Abbott Animal Health, Elanco Companion Animal Health, Merial, Novartis Animal Health, and Zoetis, and are endorsed by the International Veterinary Academy of Pain Management. They were subjected to the same external review process as all JAAHA articles. Q 2015 by American Animal Hospital Association JAAHA.ORG 67 Introduction Pain management is central to veterinary practice, not adjunctive. Alleviating pain is not only a professional obligation (recall the veterinarians pledge to ‘‘the relief of animal pain and suffering’’) but also a key contributor to successful case outcomes and enhancement of the veterinarian-client-patient relationship. A commitment to pain management identifies a practice as one that is committed to compassionate care; optimum recovery from illness, injury, or surgery; and enhanced quality of life. These guidelines continue the trend in all branches of medicine toward evidence-based consensus statements that address key issues in clinical practice. Although not a review article, this compilation is a force multiplier for the busy practitioner, consolidating in a single place current recommendations and insights from experts in pain management. These guidelines are the product of a collaborative effort by the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) and the American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP). The recommendations of the guidelines Task Force are evidence based insofar as possible and otherwise represent a consensus of expert opinion. These guidelines are designed to expand on the information contained in the 2007 AAHA/AAFP Pain Management Guidelines for Dogs and Cats. 1,2 The 2015 guidelines differ from the earlier version in several ways.The first sections are general concepts designed to ‘‘set the stage’’ for the remaining, more specific content. The 2015 guidelines also discuss the importance of an integrated approach to managing pain that does not rely strictly on analgesic drugs. Because pain assessment in animals has become more scientifically grounded in recent years, various clinically validated instruments for scoring pain in both dogs and cats are described. The extensive list of published references includes numerous studies published within the past 3 yr, reflecting the rapid pace of advances in managing pain for companion animals. The 2015 guidelines summarize and offer a discriminating review of much of this new knowledge. Types of Pain All types of tissue injury can be generators of pain. Occasionally, pain may occur in the absence of such causative factors. Understanding the mechanisms of pain is the key to its successful prevention and treatment. The pain response is unique to each individual