Companion Animal Welfare

Dog Welfare and Pain Assessment Science

Pain assessment science in dogs has advanced significantly with validated scales and behavioural indicators. These tools improve pain recognition and management in clinical and home settings.

Key Facts

The Glasgow Composite Measure Pain Scale (CMPS-SF) is widely used in clinical settings
The Helsinki Chronic Pain Index assesses pain in dogs with chronic conditions
Behavioural indicators including posture, facial expression, and movement provide pain information
Owner assessment using validated tools provides information unavailable in clinical examination
Machine learning analysis of behaviour videos is being developed for automated pain detection

Welfare Considerations

Pain assessment science advances enable earlier, more accurate detection of pain in dogs. Validated tools in both clinical and home settings improve management and reduce the period of unaddressed pain.

What You Can Do

Learn to use validated pain assessment tools for monitoring your dog
Complete owner-reported pain scales and share with your vet
Record videos of your dog at home to show behaviour not seen in clinical examination
Advocate for pain assessment training to be core veterinary education