A potential new drug for canine pain

18 August 2026

In 2025, Andy Bell and Paula Ledesma at the University of Glasgow received BSAVA PetSavers funding for a student research project in canine analgesia. Undergraduate vet student Brandi Butler describes her project entitled Canine analgesia research: a laboratory appraisal of SCN10A as an analgesic target in canine sensory neurons.

This project investigated novel targets for pain relief in dog tissue. Pain is a frequent concern in dogs and throughout the field of veterinary medicine that presents concurrently with many disease processes and ailments. Additionally, pain management for our patients is particularly important for many routine procedures both surgical and non-surgical.

While many forms of analgesic medications exist on the market today, they are often ineffective and harbour a plethora of side effects. Recent research in human medicine has focused on creating a new class of analgesic medications which target sensory neurons located in the peripheral nervous system; particularly a specific class of sensory neurons called nociceptors. These nociceptors innervate various body tissues and are responsible for the transmission of pain signals to the central nervous system.

Different groups of voltage-gated sodium channels are expressed in nociceptors. These sodium channels are responsible for generating action potentials and ultimately the transmission of pain signals from the peripheral nervous system to the central nervous system. In human medicine, a new drug called Suzetrigine was recently approved which acts on a specific sodium channel, Nav1.8. The aim of this new therapeutic option is to target the Nav 1.8 sodium channel, acting as a sodium channel blocker and ultimately preventing the influx of sodium into the cell. Without the influx of sodium, the cell does not reach threshold and generate an action potential. Therefore, the transmission of pain signals from the peripheral nervous system to the central nervous system does not occur – decreasing the conscious perception of pain. While this drug has been approved in human medicine, very little research exists evaluating Nav 1.8 as a potential therapeutic drug in canines. In our study, we aimed to identify if the Nav 1.8 sodium channel is a potential viable target for our canine patients as it is in humans.

Our research process

To evaluate the presence of Nav 1.8 sodium channels in dogs, we used Hybridization Chain Reaction Gold RNA Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization (HCR Gold FISH) to examine the expression of SCN10A, the gene which encodes Nav 1.8, in canine dorsal root ganglions.

HCR Gold FISH allows us to apply fluorescent probes to our samples. These probes are specific RNA sequences which have been formulated to compliment a specific target sequence. Once they have bound to their target sequence, we are able to view them under a fluorescent microscope to visualize the presence of SCN10A mRNA and hence confirm expression of this target in canine sensory neurons.

We had several aims for the study as a whole. Our first focused on identifying the cell types that express SCN10A to confirm expression in neurons and not non-neuronal cells. The second aim was to describe the characteristics of neurons expressing SCN10A. If Nav 1.8 sodium channels are expressed in neurons with similar characteristics to that of humans, we expect to find SCN10A in smaller diameter nociceptive neurons. The final aim evaluates whether the neurons expressing SCN10A show co-expression for TRPV1 (Transient Receptor Potential Vanilloid 1) which is a known marker for nociceptors.

We recently presented our findings at the BVA Live Congress held in June, where we explained how the results confirmed our working hypothesis. We are now in the process of writing a research article.

From clinic to lab

The majority of my veterinary experience is in small animal emergency, and in the emergency clinic, we were often presented with animals in critical condition and severe acute pain. Many of these patients required immediate surgical intervention. Recognizing and treating pain was of utmost importance not only for the comfort of the patient but also for stabilization purposes so surgical procedures could be performed. Conversely, in general practice, many of our patients were experiencing chronic pain. We encountered dogs already on a variety of pain medications showing overt signs of persistent pain even on their current treatment plans.

This prior experience allowed me to see firsthand the importance of pain control in our veterinary patients. It additionally emphasized to me the need for alternative novel pain options in veterinary medicine, as managing canine pain with our current medications is not only inefficient, but has a broad range of side effects.

When I saw this research project posted on our University website, I was quite excited to apply as I have an interest in the fundamentals of how medicines work. As excited as I was though, I was quite nervous to be entering a laboratory setting. I had no prior laboratory experience, only clinical. I registered how vastly different working in clinic was in comparison.

Before the project began, I was given a tour of the laboratory and some of the spaces I would be working in. Each space, and all of the equipment in it was entirely foreign to me. HCR RNA-FISH, the protocol we would be using, was incomprehensible to me. Even the solutions we would be using throughout the protocol were chemicals I had never heard of nor worked with previously. Acknowledging all this at the start was quite intimidating!

Learning the lab

The first few weeks of the project were centred around getting used to the lab, understanding the protocol, and filling in any knowledge gaps. Much of my intimidation faded as everyone in the lab was more than happy to help with any queries, and my supervisors were encouraging and willing to explain the process as many times as necessary. Being in an environment with individuals who were very knowledgeable, kind and willing to teach made it easy to understand, and also incredibly fun.

As with any research, the study was not seamless, and we encountered several areas of the protocol that needed modification. Working through these helped add to my understanding. Many of these instances involved running the protocol slightly differently which allowed me increased exposure with the protocol and lab. It was exciting trying to decipher why certain aspects weren’t working as intended!

Consider a research project!

I would like to recommend to anyone interested in the possibility of research to get involved! I have learned such a great deal over the course of this project – from the way a laboratory works, to problem-solving techniques, to working with a lab-based team. The flexibility of the protocol also allowed me to continue my studies and even carry on with my part-time job. In addition, this research project has added to my understanding not only of my studies but also my clinical experience. For me, getting involved in research always felt a bit frightening, especially with a background that was strictly clinical. I was worried that my lack of knowledge might be a hindrance or annoyance but that wasn’t the case at all. My supervisors were so kind and understanding of my knowledge base and afforded me the opportunity to learn. After completing this project I feel far more comfortable in a laboratory setting and will likely pursue more research opportunities if they arise.

Biggest thank you to BSAVA PetSavers!

I am incredibly grateful to BSAVA PetSavers for funding this research and giving me the opportunity to participate in this project. Without their funding I would not have been able to take part in this fascinating research or improve my knowledge and understanding of this field. I hope other veterinary students will consider pursuing research experience in the future and would highly recommend anyone interested to apply for the BSAVA PetSavers studentship grant. I truly cannot thank BSAVA PetSavers enough and will use what I have learned throughout this project not only to pursue other research-related interests, but throughout my future career

About the author

Brandi Butler

I am a current third year veterinary student at the University of Glasgow and it is my hope after completion of this degree to continue in this portion of the field. Prior to my current degree programme I studied Animal Science in the United States at the University of Vermont. During my undergraduate degree, and for years following, I worked as a veterinary technician in both an emergency setting and general practice.

Supervisor perspectives

Paula Ledesma Fernandez DVM Cert AVP MscR MRCVS PhD Student and project supervisor

Working with Brandi has been a rewarding experience and having a vet student conduct a bottom-up research initiative proved highly successful. Although the techniques and protocols were new to her, Brandi showed genuine interest and eagerness to learn from the start. Her  valuable findings have advanced our understanding of SCN10A expression in canine sensory neurons while giving her hands-on experience in non-clinical research with potential clinical relevance. This project not only enhanced Brandi’s technical and analytical skills but also demonstrated how veterinary students can effectively engage in scientific research beyond traditional clinical settings. Through her curiosity and dedication, Brandi gained a deeper understanding of the research process and its broader impact.

Andrew Bell BVMA PhD DipECVAA MRCVS Senior Research Fellow

My lab uses cutting-edge neuroscience techniques to investigate pain mechanisms across species, with a strong focus on clinically relevant questions. Coming from a clinical background, I’m passionate about research that can ultimately improve patient care. I really value having veterinary students in the lab. They’re naturally inquisitive and engaged, and stepping outside the clinical setting often feels refreshing for them. Many underestimate the diverse skillset they bring; Brandi was no exception. Her curiosity and commitment made this project a success, and we’re very grateful to BSAVA PetSavers for funding this opportunity.