Companion Animal Pain Assessment Across Species

Species-appropriate pain assessment tools are essential for recognising and treating pain in different companion animals.

Key Facts

The Glasgow Composite Measure Pain Scale is validated for dogs; the UNESP-Botucatu scale for cats
Rabbits conceal pain effectively - subtle signs include tooth grinding, hunching and reduced grooming
Small mammals like guinea pigs and rats show pain through reduced social interaction and posture changes
Birds in pain may become quiet, stop vocalising and show feather fluffing and eye closure
Pain assessment in exotic species often relies on behavioural baselines established by attentive owners

Welfare Considerations

Pain recognition is a welfare-critical skill that differs across species. Animals that conceal pain - rabbits, birds, small mammals - are at particular risk of unrecognised suffering. Species-appropriate assessment tools and owner education about baseline normal behaviour enable earlier pain recognition and treatment across all companion species.

What You Can Do

Learn species-specific pain signs for all companion animals in your care
Use validated pain scales at veterinary consultations to assess your animal's pain level
Observe and record behavioural baselines for exotic species to detect pain-related changes
Advocate for pain assessment training as a component of all companion animal veterinary education