Post-surgical monitoring in horses is critical for early detection of complications, with welfare-informed protocols balancing observation intensity against disruption and stress.
Post-surgical welfare in horses requires sustained attention during the high-risk recovery period when complications are most likely and most treatable. Pain management is the primary welfare intervention - undertreated post-operative pain causes physiological stress that impairs healing and creates unnecessary suffering. The challenge of pain assessment in horses, which mask discomfort as prey animals, requires structured assessment tools rather than subjective impression. The economic barrier to appropriate post-operative monitoring - requiring veterinary attention and often intensive care facility admission - represents a welfare access issue, as horses whose owners cannot afford intensive monitoring face greater complication risk.