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Australian veterinary journal2026; doi: 10.1111/avj.70059

Survey describing the perspectives and practices of Australian veterinarians to pain management in horses.

Abstract: To describe Australian practices and attitudes regarding equine analgesia. Methods: Cross-sectional anonymous, voluntary survey of Australian veterinarians treating equine patients. Methods: Australian veterinarians in equine or mixed practices completed a six-section, 60-question survey between November 2019 to August 2020. Information was gathered on demographics, analgesia prescription, pain assessment and attitudes surrounding specific analgesics. Respondents assigned a pain score ranging from 0 to 10 for various conditions; these were averaged to give each respondent an "average pain score". Results: Data from 153 respondents were included for analysis. The majority of respondents were female (68%). There was no obvious effect of gender on practice type, with approximately half of respondents working in equine exclusive (50.3%) or mixed (49.7%) practice irrespective of gender. Butorphanol was the most frequently used opioid, with 25.5% and 39.2% of respondents using it "every day" and "a few times a week", respectively. The use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) was diverse, with phenylbutazone, flunixin and meloxicam being the most administered. Formal pain scales were infrequently used, with more than 35% of respondents reporting no pain scale being utilised commonly. In response to various clinical scenarios, veterinarians graduating less than 10 years ago were more likely to assign high average pain scores compared to respondents graduating more than 10 years ago (78.0% vs. 66.0%, respectively). Female veterinarians were more likely to assign high average pain severity scores than males (73.0% vs. 60.0%, respectively). However, in the multivariable analysis, none of the predictors were found to be statistically significant. Conclusions: This survey demonstrates that demographic factors influence the attitudes of Australian equine veterinarians regarding pain and there may be opportunities to educate and optimise pain assessment and protocol choices.
© 2026 The Author(s). Australian Veterinary Journal published by John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd on behalf of Australian Veterinary Association.
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Publication Date: 2026-02-05 PubMed ID: 41644283DOI: 10.1111/avj.70059Google 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.

Overview

  • This research surveyed Australian veterinarians to understand their practices, attitudes, and approaches toward managing pain in horses.
  • The study analyzed responses about pain assessment, analgesic use, and demographic influences on these practices.

Study Objectives and Methods

  • The objective was to describe current practices and attitudes of Australian veterinarians regarding equine pain management.
  • The study was conducted via a cross-sectional, anonymous, voluntary survey aimed at veterinarians treating horses.
  • The survey was distributed between November 2019 and August 2020 to veterinarians working in equine-only or mixed practices.
  • Participants completed a comprehensive 60-question survey divided into six sections, covering demographics, analgesic prescription habits, pain assessment methods, and attitudes about specific pain medications.
  • Veterinarians were asked to assign pain scores (0–10) for various clinical pain scenarios, which were averaged to provide an “average pain score” per respondent.

Respondent Demographics

  • Data from 153 veterinarians were analyzed.
  • The survey population was predominantly female (68%).
  • Approximately half the respondents worked exclusively with horses (50.3%), and the other half worked in mixed-species practice (49.7%).
  • Gender did not significantly affect the type of practice veterinarians worked in.

Analgesic Use Patterns

  • Butorphanol, an opioid analgesic, was the most frequently used opioid.
  • About 25.5% of respondents reported using butorphanol daily and 39.2% used it several times a week.
  • Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) usage was varied, with phenylbutazone, flunixin, and meloxicam being the top choices.
  • This variety suggests no single dominant NSAID but rather a selection based on clinical judgment or case specifics.

Pain Assessment Practices

  • The use of formal pain scales was uncommon.
  • More than 35% of respondents reported they did not regularly use any formalized pain scoring system in practice.
  • This indicates a potential gap in standardized pain assessment methodologies for equine patients among Australian veterinarians.

Attitudes Toward Pain Severity

  • Veterinarians who graduated less than 10 years ago tended to assign higher average pain scores compared to those who graduated over 10 years ago (78.0% vs. 66.0%).
  • Female veterinarians assigned higher average pain severity scores than male veterinarians (73.0% vs. 60.0%).
  • Despite these tendencies, multivariable statistical analysis did not find any of these demographic predictors to be significantly associated with pain score assignments.

Conclusions and Implications

  • The survey highlights that demographic factors such as gender and years since graduation influence pain assessment attitudes among Australian equine veterinarians.
  • The current pain assessment practices reveal limited use of formalized pain scoring tools, suggesting an opportunity for improved education and implementation of standardized assessment protocols.
  • The diverse use of analgesics indicates variability in pain management practices that could benefit from guidelines promoting optimal drug selection and dosing.
  • Overall, the findings point to potential areas for professional development and training to enhance pain recognition, assessment, and effective management in horses.

Cite This Article

APA
Whitelock A, Goodwin W, Dryburgh L, Mshelbwala PP, Rae L, Marwedel L, Lok T, Kemp K, Stewart AJ. (2026). Survey describing the perspectives and practices of Australian veterinarians to pain management in horses. Aust Vet J. https://doi.org/10.1111/avj.70059

Publication

Australian veterinary journal
ISSN: 1751-0813
NlmUniqueID: 0370616
Country: England
Language: English

Researcher Affiliations

Whitelock, A
  • School of Veterinary Sciences, The University of Queensland, Gatton, Queensland, 4343, Australia.
Goodwin, W
  • School of Veterinary Sciences, The University of Queensland, Gatton, Queensland, 4343, Australia.
Dryburgh, L
  • Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health Australia, 78 Waterloo Rd, North Ryde, New South Wales, 2113, Australia.
Mshelbwala, P P
  • School of Veterinary Sciences, The University of Queensland, Gatton, Queensland, 4343, Australia.
  • Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, 105 Prince St, Orange, New South Wales, 2800, Australia.
Rae, L
  • Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health Australia, 78 Waterloo Rd, North Ryde, New South Wales, 2113, Australia.
Marwedel, L
  • Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health Australia, 78 Waterloo Rd, North Ryde, New South Wales, 2113, Australia.
Lok, T
  • Randwick Equine Specialists, Horsley Park, New South Wales, 2175, Australia.
Kemp, K
  • School of Veterinary Sciences, The University of Queensland, Gatton, Queensland, 4343, Australia.
Stewart, A J
  • School of Veterinary Sciences, The University of Queensland, Gatton, Queensland, 4343, Australia.

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