Companion Animal Welfare

Companion Animal Pain Assessment Advances

Validated pain assessment tools are improving how veterinarians and owners detect and respond to pain in companion animals.

Key Facts

The Glasgow Composite Pain Scale (dogs) and Feline Grimace Scale are validated clinical tools
Owner-completed questionnaires like the Helsinki Chronic Pain Index allow at-home assessment
Thermal imaging and movement analysis are emerging tech-based pain assessment approaches
Undertreatment of chronic pain in companion animals remains common despite available tools
Pain reassessment after treatment is essential to evaluate response and adjust management

Welfare Considerations

Pain that cannot be accurately measured cannot be effectively managed. The growing toolkit of validated pain assessment tools represents a major advance for companion animal welfare, enabling more consistent and compassionate care.

What You Can Do

Ask your vet to use a validated pain assessment tool during consultations
Learn to recognize subtle signs of chronic pain in your pet
Advocate for pain assessment as a routine part of every veterinary consultation