Companion Animal Chronic Pain Recognition

Chronic pain is significantly under-recognised in companion animals due to their natural tendency to mask discomfort, with major implications for quality of life.

Key Facts

Cats are particularly adept at masking pain, leading to significant underdiagnosis of chronic conditions
The International Veterinary Academy of Pain Management estimates 80% of cats over 14 have arthritis
Behavioural changes including reduced grooming, altered elimination, and social withdrawal indicate chronic pain
Owner-reported quality of life assessments capture chronic pain impacts that clinical exams may miss
Validated chronic pain scales including the CMPS and Helsinki Chronic Pain Index aid objective assessment
Effective multimodal pain management includes NSAIDs, gabapentinoids, environmental modification, and physiotherapy
Regular pain reassessment is essential as chronic conditions progress and pain management needs change

Welfare Considerations

Chronic pain represents a major and largely hidden welfare burden in companion animals. The social instinct to hide weakness means that many animals endure prolonged suffering that could be significantly reduced with appropriate diagnosis and management. Normalising routine chronic pain assessment for older pets is one of the highest-impact welfare improvements available to veterinary practice.

What You Can Do

Have older pets assessed for chronic pain at every veterinary visit using validated scales
Learn the subtle behavioural signs of chronic pain in your species of companion animal
Ask your vet about comprehensive multimodal pain management options for pets with chronic conditions
Use owner-completed quality of life assessments to track treatment response at home
Advocate for pain management protocols to be standard of care in veterinary practice