Companion Animal Welfare

Companion Animal Pain: Under-Recognition and Under-Treatment

Pain in companion animals is systematically under-recognised and under-treated due to communication barriers, stoic behaviour and limited knowledge of pain indicators among owners.

Key Facts

Studies show that most owners underestimate the degree of pain their pets experience after surgery
Cats are particularly stoic and often hide pain responses, leading to undertreatment
Validated pain scales for cats (including grimace scales) have improved clinical assessment
Arthritis is estimated to affect 60-90% of cats over 12 years but is significantly undertreated
NSAIDs and newer treatments including monoclonal antibody therapies have transformed chronic pain management options

Welfare Considerations

The stoic nature of many companion animals creates a systematic welfare problem - animals in significant pain continue to eat, walk and interact, masking their suffering from owners and sometimes vets. Education of owners about subtle pain signs (changes in posture, grooming habits, social withdrawal, reduced activity) enables earlier intervention. The welfare dividend from improved pain recognition and treatment is enormous.

What You Can Do

Learn to recognise subtle signs of pain in your cats and dogs
Discuss pain assessment with your vet at every wellness visit
Do not assume your pet is pain-free simply because they are still active
Explore newer pain management options including monoclonal antibody treatments for arthritic cats