Which of the following is a consequence of untreated pain?

Untreated pain can lead to increased anesthetic risk due to several physiological changes that occur in patients experiencing pain. When an animal is in pain, its stress response is activated, leading to an increase in heart rate, blood pressure, and stress hormone levels. These responses can complicate the management of anesthesia, as the animal may require adjustments in dosages and monitoring due to heightened sensitivity to anesthetic agents. Additionally, untreated pain can cause altered pharmacodynamics, making anesthetic management more challenging. Hence, recognizing and managing pain is critical to minimizing risks during anesthesia and ensuring a safer procedure for veterinary patients.

The other choices do not accurately describe the consequences of untreated pain. For instance, inflammation is typically increased in response to pain and injury, and would not improve wound healing or contribute to a better catabolic state, which denotes a state of tissue breakdown rather than healing. Thus, understanding the implications of untreated pain is crucial in veterinary anesthesia and patient care.