Accurately recognizing and treating pain in animals is one of the most important welfare skills in veterinary practice, yet it remains challenging and unevenly applied.
Pain recognition requires combining validated assessment tools with clinical experience and species-specific behavioral knowledge. Prey animals including cats, rabbits, and farm animals actively suppress pain behaviors, making assessment harder than for predator species. Chronic pain is particularly challenging as behavioral baselines shift gradually. Postoperative pain management has improved significantly in companion animal practice but remains inconsistent in farm animal contexts. Veterinary education and ongoing training are critical to closing these gaps.