Adequate post-surgical pain management in laboratory animals requires systematic monitoring using validated assessment tools throughout the recovery period.
Post-operative pain in laboratory animals has historically been under-recognized and under-treated, partly due to difficulty assessing pain in prey species that suppress behavioral indicators. Research now demonstrates that untreated post-surgical pain impairs wound healing, immune function, and experimental reproducibility — creating scientific as well as ethical reasons for rigorous pain management. Institutions should implement standardized monitoring protocols with clear intervention criteria, adequate analgesic redosing schedules, and trained staff capable of recognizing subtle pain indicators in the species they work with.