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Veterinary journal (London, England : 1997)2018; 242; 1-7; doi: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2018.10.001

Objective pain assessment in horses (2014-2018).

Abstract: In recent decades, much effort has been invested in scientific studies of objective and reliable assessment of pain in horses. Various types of pain assessment tools have been described and (partly) validated for different types of pain in horses. Currently, composite pain scales and facial expression-based pain scales seem to be the most promising tools for pain assessment in horses and numerous studies have recently been published on the use of these pain scales in horses. Therefore, this narrative review mainly focusses on these two types of pain scales and on the studies that have appeared describing these type of pain scales in horses. The extent to which these pain scales have been validated (sensitivity, specificity, inter-observer reliability etc.) and their potential use for clinical pain states is discussed. Possible future directions for new studies and their possible aid in assessing pain in hospitalised and ridden horses are presented. In this way, improved pain scoring could improve criteria used to evaluate the clinical efficacy of new analgesic drugs and techniques, potentially benefiting equine welfare.
Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
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Publication Date: 2018-10-09 PubMed ID: 30503538DOI: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2018.10.001Google 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 article centers around the developments in pain assessment in horses from 2014 to 2018, primarily focusing on the use and effectiveness of composite pain scales and facial expression-based pain scales.

Overview of Pain Assessment in Horses

  • The field of equine pain assessment has witnessed a surge of scientific studies over recent years primarily focused on providing objective and reliable tools for gauging pain in horses.
  • Several pain assessment tools have been described and partially validated, each aiming to accurately measure different types of pain horses experience.

Emergence of Composite Pain Scales and Facial Expression-Based Pain Scales

  • This review primarily deals with two types of pain scales: composite pain scales and facial expression-based pain scales, both of which appear to be promising methods for assessing pain in horses.
  • A significant number of recent studies have centered around these types of pain scales, experimenting with their use in horses.

Validation and Clinical Potentials of these Pain Scales

  • Each scale’s validation is also discussed in the article, including sensitivity, specificity, inter-observer reliability, and other important parameters.
  • The potential for these pain scales to be used for various clinical pain conditions in horses is examined.

Future Application and Roles in Drug Efficacy

  • The study hints at potential new directions for further research, considering how these scales could aid in assessing pain in different environments such as on hospitalised horses or those being ridden.
  • An improved pain scoring system could benefit equine welfare by amending the criteria used to evaluate the potency of new analgesic drugs and methods.

The review poses a significant contribution to the field, tackling the complex challenge of effectively gauging pain in animals that cannot communicate their discomfort verbally. By fine-tuning these pain assessment tools, researchers aim to improve the horses’ welfare and expand the capacity for effective equine healthcare treatments.

Cite This Article

APA
van Loon JPAM, Van Dierendonck MC. (2018). Objective pain assessment in horses (2014-2018). Vet J, 242, 1-7. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tvjl.2018.10.001

Publication

Veterinary journal (London, England : 1997)
ISSN: 1532-2971
NlmUniqueID: 9706281
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 242
Pages: 1-7

Researcher Affiliations

van Loon, J P A M
  • Department of Equine Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Yalelaan 114, NL-3584 CM Utrecht, The Netherlands. Electronic address: j.p.a.m.vanloon@uu.nl.
Van Dierendonck, M C
  • Department of Equine Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Yalelaan 114, NL-3584 CM Utrecht, The Netherlands; Veterinary Faculty Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, 9820 Merelbeke, Ghent, Belgium; Department of Veterinary Sciences Antwerp University, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610, Wilrijk, Antwerp, Belgium.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Castration / veterinary
  • Colic / diagnosis
  • Colic / veterinary
  • Female
  • Horse Diseases / diagnosis
  • Horses
  • Male
  • Pain Measurement / veterinary
  • Pain, Postoperative / diagnosis
  • Pain, Postoperative / veterinary
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Visceral Pain / diagnosis
  • Visceral Pain / veterinary

Citations

This article has been cited 25 times.
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