This website is intended to provide general guidance on recognizing pain in animals based on findings in the National Research Council report, Recognition and Alleviation of Pain in Laboratory Animals (2009). For in-depth discussion and for information on preventing and alleviating animal pain, see the full report.
All vertebrates should be considered capable of experiencing the aversive state of pain. The alleviation and prevention of animal pain is both an ethical and moral imperative. In the case of lab animals, minimizing animal pain is also scientifically and practically beneficial. What has been learned through research about pain in laboratory animals can also be applied to pets, farm animals, and other animals.
General Overview: Behavioral Signs of Persistent Pain
Recent scientific
research has considerably
advanced our understanding
of animal pain; however,
there are still few scientifically
validated pain assessment
techniques. Therefore,
in most circumstances, pain
is assessed based on the appearance
of an animal and
its overall behavior. Current
best practice is to combine a
structured clinical examination
with a good knowledge
of the normal appearance
and behavior of the animals
involved.
Here are some signs to look for:
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Sign
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Explanation
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Guarding
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The animal alters its posture to avoid moving or causing
contact to a body part, or to avoid the handling of that
body area.
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Abnormal appearance
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Different species show different changes in their
external appearance, but obvious lack of grooming,
changed posture, and a changed profile of the body can
all be observed. In species capable of some degree of
facial expression, the normal expression may be altered.
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Altered behavior
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Behavior may be depressed; animals may remain
immobile, or reluctant to stand or move even when
disturbed. They may also exhibit restlessness (e.g., lying
down and getting up, shifting weight, circling, or pacing)
or disturbed sleeping patterns. Large animal species may
grunt, grind their teeth, flag their tail, stomp, or curl
their lips (especially sheep and goats). Primates in pain
often roll their eyes. Animals in pain may also show
altered social interactions with others in their group.
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Vocalization
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An animal may vocalize when approached or handled or
when a specific body area is touched or palpated. It may
also vocalize when moving to avoid being handled.
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Mutilation
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Animals may lick, bite, scratch, shake, or rub a painful
area.
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Sweating
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In species that sweat (horses), excessive sweating is
often associated with some types of pain (e.g., colic).
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Lack of Appetite
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Animals in pain frequently stop eating and drinking, or
markedly reduce their intake, resulting in rapid weight
loss.
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