Companion Animal Welfare

Dog Welfare and Pain Assessment Advances

New pain assessment tools and technologies are improving detection and management of pain in dogs. Understanding these advances enables more effective welfare management.

Key Facts

The Glasgow Composite Measure Pain Scale-SF is widely validated for post-operative pain
Grimace scales for dogs are being developed following feline success
Thermal infrared imaging detects inflammation as a pain biomarker
Machine learning analysis of movement data detects lameness earlier than clinical observation
Owner-completed questionnaires provide home pain information unavailable to clinicians

Welfare Considerations

Pain assessment advances enable earlier, more accurate detection leading to faster treatment. Staying current with best-practice pain assessment tools significantly improves welfare outcomes for dogs in pain.

What You Can Do

Learn about and use validated pain assessment tools for your dog
Use home questionnaires and video monitoring between vet visits
Advocate for pain assessment training as core veterinary education
Support development of new pain assessment technologies through charitable giving