Measurement of postoperative weight change in adult or growing animals is potentially an objective, efficient means of evaluating surgery-related pain. To investigate the efficacy of this evaluation method, Brennan et al. measured growth rates in young male rats that underwent thoracotomy and were treated postoperatively with either buprenorphine or meloxicam analgesia. To distinguish between the individual effects of anesthesia, analgesics and surgery, the authors included multiple control groups in the study. Notably, treatment with buprenorphine alone significantly affected rats' body weights, whereas treatment with meloxicam maintained rats' growth rates at near normal levels, even after an invasive surgical procedure. See page 87

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