Expanding Palliative Pain Options for Cancer Patients at PASE: Ketamine-Lidocaine Infusions Now Available

Dr. Lillie Davis, DVM, DACVIM (Oncology)

Philadelphia Animal Specialty & Emergency (PASE) is now offering intravenous ketamine-lidocaine (KL) infusions as a palliative pain management option for canine oncology patients. Under the care of board-certified veterinary oncologist Dr. Lillie Davis, this novel outpatient therapy is tailored for dogs experiencing refractory cancer-related pain—particularly those with osteolytic lesions, soft tissue invasion, or pain associated with radiation side effects.

A recent 15-year retrospective study published in JAVMA (April 2025) demonstrated that KL infusions significantly improved comfort in 76% of treated veterinary patients, with minimal toxicity when used alongside standard analgesics. Most patients showed improvements in pain levels, appetite, activity, and mobility, even when previous analgesic regimens—including NSAIDs, gabapentinoids, and opioids—were insufficient. Importantly, patients receiving KL infusions also experienced a reduction or stabilization of their pain management protocols, suggesting a potential opioid-sparing effect.

At PASE, KL infusions are administered over 4–6 hours in a closely monitored outpatient setting and are integrated into individualized multimodal pain management plans. These treatments can be repeated every 2-4 weeks if deemed effective.

This service reflects our continued commitment to improving quality of life for veterinary cancer patients and supporting referring veterinarians with advanced compassionate care options.

To refer a case or discuss whether KL infusions are appropriate for your oncology patient, please contact Dr. Davis directly at PASE.