Companion Animal Pain Recognition: Improving Owner and Vet Awareness

Pain in companion animals is systematically underrecognised and undertreated. Validated pain assessment tools and improved owner education are transforming pain management in veterinary practice.

Key Facts

Studies show that post-surgical pain is undertreated in a significant proportion of veterinary patients
Chronic pain in companion animals (arthritis, dental disease, cancer) is frequently unrecognised by owners
Animals mask pain as an evolutionary response - obvious pain signs often indicate severe pain
The Glasgow Composite Pain Scale, Feline Grimace Scale and UNESP-Botucatu scale are validated assessment tools
Osteoarthritis is estimated to affect 80% of dogs over 8 years but is diagnosed in a fraction of these
Multimodal analgesia (combining drug classes) provides better pain control than single-drug approaches
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are the most widely used analgesics in companion animal practice

Welfare Considerations

Pain recognition is the foundational welfare competency for companion animal owners. An animal that cannot communicate pain in human language requires observers who know what to look for - and animal pain communication is subtle. Changes in posture, reduced activity, altered facial expression, reluctance to be touched, personality change, altered sleep patterns and reduced appetite are all pain indicators that owners frequently attribute to ageing or 'slowing down' rather than recognising as pain requiring veterinary assessment. Improving pain literacy in pet owners is one of the highest-leverage welfare interventions available to veterinary practice and welfare education.

What You Can Do

Learn the validated pain signs for your species: Feline Grimace Scale for cats, orthopaedic assessment for dogs
Report any behaviour changes or reduced activity to your vet - do not attribute these to 'normal ageing'
Ask your vet to perform a pain assessment at every routine visit for senior pets
Advocate for post-surgical pain assessment and multimodal analgesia protocols in your veterinary practice
Support organisations developing and validating animal pain assessment tools
Learn cat pain signs specifically - cats are masters of pain concealment and are systematically undertreated