Companion Animal Pain Assessment Tools

Validated pain assessment tools for companion animals enable earlier, more accurate recognition of pain, improving welfare and guiding appropriate analgesic treatment.

Key Facts

Cats in particular are poor communicators of pain, with only subtle behavioural changes in chronic pain
Validated scales like the Glasgow Composite Measure Pain Scale (CMPS) and Feline Grimace Scale (FGS) are in clinical use
Owner completion of pain assessment tools at home provides longitudinal data between consultations
Undertreatment of pain in companion animals is common due to difficulty in recognition and analgesic concerns
Digital tools and smartphone apps are making validated pain assessment more accessible to owners and vets

Welfare Considerations

Pain assessment tools convert subjective clinical impression into measurable data, enabling better treatment decisions, clearer communication with owners and fairer welfare for all animals.

What You Can Do

Learn to use the Feline Grimace Scale or Glasgow Pain Scale for your companion animals
Ask your vet about pain assessment protocols for surgical, orthopaedic and chronic disease patients
Support research into pain assessment validation for species with currently limited validated tools