Abstract

The behaviour of an animal is used to identify and evaluate pain. However, simple active behaviours may not be sufficient for these purposes. Several different scales and experimental protocols have been developed for use in clinical and experimental circumstances. The use of control groups and different analgesic treatments has allowed the identification of behaviours related to particular painful stimuli. Pain threshold monitoring, self-administered analgesic trials and choice tests are furthering our understanding of an animal`s response to painful stimuli and procedures. These protocols combined with physiological, immunological and production indices are allowing for a better understanding of the effects of painful stimuli on animals. However, the interpretation of behaviour remains difficult and evaluating pain in a non-human species remains controversial.

KJ, Stafford, and DJ Mellor

Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production, Volume 62, Palmerston North, 355-358, 2002