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Home / Equine Research Bank / Animals (Basel) / Objective Assessment of Acute Pain in Foals Using a Facial E...
Animals : an open access journal from MDPI2020; 10(9); doi: 10.3390/ani10091610

Objective Assessment of Acute Pain in Foals Using a Facial Expression-Based Pain Scale.

Abstract: Pain assessment is very important for monitoring welfare and quality of life in horses. To date, no studies have described pain scales for objective assessment of pain in foals. Studies in other species have shown that facial expression can be used in neonatal animals for objective assessment of acute pain. The aim of the current study was to adapt a facial expression-based pain scale for assessment of acute pain in mature horses for valid pain assessment in foals. The scale was applied to fifty-nine foals (20 patients and 39 healthy controls); animals were assessed from video recordings (30-60 s) by 3 observers, who were blinded for the condition of the animals. Patients were diagnosed with acute health problems by means of clinical examination and additional diagnostic procedures. EQUUS-FAP FOAL (Equine Utrecht University Scale for Facial Assessment of Pain in Foals) showed good inter- and intra-observer reliability (Cronbach's alpha = 0.95 and 0.98, p < 0.001). Patients had significantly higher pain scores compared to controls (p < 0.001) and the pain scores decreased after treatment with NSAIDs (meloxicam or flunixin meglumine IV) (p < 0.05). Our results indicate that a facial expression-based pain scale could be useful for the assessment of acute pain in foals. Further studies are needed to validate this pain scale.
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Publication Date: 2020-09-10 PubMed ID: 32927590PubMed Central: PMC7552134DOI: 10.3390/ani10091610Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

This research seeks to evaluate acute pain in young horses (foals) using a modified facial expression-based pain scale, originally developed for assessing pain in mature horses. The scale was found to reliably distinguish between healthy and ill foals, with pain scores dropping after medication.

Background

  • The need for assessing pain in horses is significant due to the potential implications for the animal’s health and quality of life. Foals, or young horses, have not previously had pain scales specifically designed for their assessment.
  • The study aims to modify a facial expression-based pain scale designed for mature horses and apply it to foals. This technique had already shown promise in assessing acute pain in neonatal animals of other species.

Methodology

  • A sample size of 59 foals was selected, including 20 patients with acute health problems and 39 healthy controls.
  • The assessment of the animals was blinded, conducted through video recordings of 30 to 60 seconds each by three separate observers.
  • The scale used for assessment was the EQUUS-FAP FOAL (Equine Utrecht University Scale for Facial Assessment of Pain in Foals).

Results

  • A strong inter- and intra-observer reliability was observed, with Cronbach’s alpha values of 0.95 and 0.98 respectively, indicating a high level of consistency in the observers’ ratings.
  • There was a significant difference seen in pain scores between patients and controls, with those experiencing health issues scoring higher on the pain scale.
  • Following treatment with NSAIDs (meloxicam or flunixin meglumine IV), the pain scores of the affected foals noticeably decreased.

Conclusion

  • The results give an indication that a facial expression-based pain scale can be useful in assessing acute pain in foals.
  • Further research is necessary to fully validate this pain scale.

Cite This Article

APA
van Loon J, Verhaar N, van den Berg E, Ross S, de Grauw J. (2020). Objective Assessment of Acute Pain in Foals Using a Facial Expression-Based Pain Scale. Animals (Basel), 10(9). https://doi.org/10.3390/ani10091610

Publication

Animals : an open access journal from MDPI
ISSN: 2076-2615
NlmUniqueID: 101635614
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 10
Issue: 9

Researcher Affiliations

van Loon, Johannes
  • Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, 3584CM Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Verhaar, Nicole
  • Clinic for Horses, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, 30559 Hannover, Germany.
van den Berg, Els
  • Dierenhospitaal Visdonk, 4707PE Roosendaal, The Netherlands.
Ross, Sarah
  • Anglesey Lodge Hospital, The Curragh, Kildare R56 YX98, Ireland.
de Grauw, Janny
  • Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, 3584CM Utrecht, The Netherlands.

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Citations

This article has been cited 3 times.
  1. Bolesławska-Szubartowska J, Kucharczuk M, Skrabska A, Zbysław A, Adamowicz J, Alszko A, Domagalska-Stomska K, Durska M, Dziekcierów A, Janiszewska Z, Korzeniowska R, Kraujutowicz K, Kulesza K, Marciniak P, Pacyna Z, Przeborowska J, Siwek Z, Leonard M, Rapacz-Leonard A. Introducing an Innovative Pain Scale for Assessing Postpartum Pain in Mares: Preliminary Clinical Evaluation. Animals (Basel) 2025 Nov 30;15(23).
    doi: 10.3390/ani15233454pubmed: 41375512google scholar: lookup
  2. van Loon JPAM, Trindade PHE, da Silva GV, Keus J, Huberts C, de Grauw JC, Lanci A. Objective assessment of acute pain in foals using a facial expression-based pain scale. Equine Vet J 2025 Nov;57(6):1520-1530.
    doi: 10.1111/evj.14481pubmed: 39888021google scholar: lookup
  3. Lanci A, Benedetti B, Freccero F, Castagnetti C, Mariella J, van Loon JPAM, Padalino B. Development of a Composite Pain Scale in Foals: A Pilot Study. Animals (Basel) 2022 Feb 11;12(4).
    doi: 10.3390/ani12040439pubmed: 35203146google scholar: lookup
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