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Veterinary journal (London, England : 1997)2015; 209; 14-22; doi: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2015.07.030

Systematic pain assessment in horses.

Abstract: Accurate recognition and quantification of pain in horses is imperative for adequate pain management. The past decade has seen a much needed surge in formal development of systematic pain assessment tools for the objective monitoring of pain in equine patients. This narrative review describes parameters that can be used to detect pain in horses, provides an overview of the various pain scales developed (visual analogue scales, simple descriptive scales, numerical rating scales, time budget analysis, composite pain scales and grimace scales), and highlights their strengths and weaknesses for potential clinical implementation. The available literature on the use of each pain assessment tool in specific equine pain states (laminitis, lameness, acute synovitis, post-castration, acute colic and post-abdominal surgery) is discussed, including any problems with sensitivity, reliability or scale validation as well as translation of results to other clinical pain states. The review considers future development and further refinement of currently available equine pain scoring systems.
Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
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Publication Date: 2015-08-06 PubMed ID: 26831169DOI: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2015.07.030Google 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 discusses the importance of accurately recognizing and quantifying pain in horses for appropriate pain management, reviewing the different systematic pain assessment tools developed over the past decade, their strengths and weaknesses, and considerations for future development.

Overview of Pain Assessment in Horses

  • The article emphasizes the critically important need for accurately recognizing and measuring pain in horses to ensure that they receive adequate management for their pain.
  • The study indicates that there has been a significant increase in the development of using systematic tools to objectively monitor pain in equine patients over the past decade.

Description of Pain Parameters and Scales

  • In their review, the authors describe different parameters that can be employed in detecting pain in horses.
  • They provide an overview of several pain scales that have been developed for this purpose, including visual analogue scales, simple descriptive scales, numerical rating scales, time budget analysis, composite pain scales, and grimace scales.

Strengths and Weaknesses of Pain Assessment Tools

  • The research additionally highlights the strengths and weaknesses of these pain scales to assess their potential utility for clinical implementation.

Use of Pain Assessment Tools in Specific Equine Pain States

  • The authors delve into the literature currently available on the use of these pain assessment tools in specific equine conditions that manifest pain, such as laminitis, lameness, acute synovitis, post-castration, acute colic, and post-abdominal surgery.
  • They discuss any issues arising with these tools’ sensitivity, reliability, or validation of the scales, plus the translation of results to other clinical situations involving pain.

Future Development and Refinement Considerations

  • The research finally considers areas for future development, further refinement, and improvement of the currently available equine pain scoring systems.
  • This ensures ongoing improvements in the means by which pain is detected and managed in equine patients.

Cite This Article

APA
de Grauw JC, van Loon JP. (2015). Systematic pain assessment in horses. Vet J, 209, 14-22. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tvjl.2015.07.030

Publication

Veterinary journal (London, England : 1997)
ISSN: 1532-2971
NlmUniqueID: 9706281
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 209
Pages: 14-22

Researcher Affiliations

de Grauw, J C
  • Department of Equine Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Yalelaan 112, 3584 CM Utrecht, The Netherlands. Electronic address: j.c.degrauw@uu.nl.
van Loon, J P A M
  • Department of Equine Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Yalelaan 112, 3584 CM Utrecht, The Netherlands.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Facial Expression
  • Horse Diseases / diagnosis
  • Horse Diseases / etiology
  • Horses
  • Pain Measurement / veterinary
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Sensitivity and Specificity

Citations

This article has been cited 48 times.
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