Welfare Science

Lab Mouse Pain Recognition

Recognising and relieving pain in laboratory mice is a major welfare challenge because mice hide pain behaviours, requiring validated assessment tools and proactive pain management.

Key Facts

The Mouse Grimace Scale provides validated facial expression pain assessment
Mice hide pain from predator avoidance instincts making assessment challenging
Post-operative pain management in laboratory mice has historically been inadequate
Refinement of procedures to reduce pain is a 3Rs obligation in regulated research
Buprenorphine in drinking water provides practical sustained pain relief post-procedure

Welfare Considerations

Laboratory mouse pain has been chronically underrecognised and undertreated because of the difficulty of assessment and the animals' tendency to hide discomfort. Validated tools and proactive pain management protocols are essential welfare improvements for one of the most numerous laboratory species.

What You Can Do

Support the 3Rs approach to reducing pain in laboratory research
Learn about validated pain assessment tools for laboratory mice
Advocate for mandatory pain management protocols in animal research regulations