Companion Animal Welfare

Companion Animal Pain Assessment Advances

Advances in pain assessment tools for companion animals are improving veterinary welfare outcomes and owner awareness of animal suffering.

Key Facts

Validated pain scales for dogs and cats now exist for acute postoperative and chronic pain
The Glasgow Composite Measure Pain Scale is widely used in dogs in clinical settings
Feline grimace scales enable rapid pain assessment in clinical environments
Pain expression in animals is often subtle and requires trained observation to detect
Remote pain monitoring using video and AI analysis is being developed for home settings

Welfare Considerations

Improved pain assessment tools are transforming the ability of veterinarians and owners to detect and respond to suffering in companion animals. Previously, undertreated pain was common because its signs were missed by untrained observers. Validating and disseminating pain assessment tools, training veterinary professionals in their use, and developing remote monitoring technologies are all translating into better welfare outcomes.

What You Can Do

Learn to use validated pain assessment tools for your companion animal species
Ask your veterinarian about pain assessment protocols and analgesic provision
Advocate for pain assessment training to be a compulsory component of veterinary education