Don't Ignore This Warning Sign That Something Is Wrong with Your Pet
It hasn't taken off in the veterinary community like in human medicine, but that doesn't mean it's not just as useful a measure as temperature, pulse and respiration. Some say it should become the fourth vital sign. At a minimum, it can reveal a lot about your pet's health to you.
Reviewed by Dr. Becker
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STORY AT-A-GLANCE
- Pain scoring is a very beneficial tool used in human medicine, but isn’t widely applied in veterinary medicine
- Veterinarians and their staffs should consider pain-scoring every patient, just as all patients are weighed, have their temperature, pulse and respiration measured and their body condition scored
- Scoring animals who can’t tell us their level of pain involves not only careful observation, but also factoring in the pain known to be associated with certain conditions and veterinary procedures
- One of the major benefits of pain scoring is it raises the level of awareness of everyone in the veterinary clinic who is caring for that patient
- The goal for every veterinary patient should be mild to no pain; any score above that should lead to an immediate reassessment of the animal’s pain management protocol
Editor's Note: This article is a reprint. It was originally published February 24, 2017.
Most of us are familiar with pain scoring. It's when a doctor or nurse asks us to rate the pain we're experiencing with a number, for example, 0 to 10, with 0 indicating almost no pain, and 10 signifying excruciating pain.
"… [A] pain score is a subjective number that gauges a patient's pain intensity based on behavioral and physiological parameters," says Dr. Phil Zeltzman, writing for Veterinary Practice News.
"Several pain scales are available, such as the Visual Analog Scale, the Colorado Pain Scale and the Glasgow Composite Pain Scale."1
The Colorado Pain Scale uses just five numbers (0 to 4), making it quick and easy to use. Unfortunately, pain scoring is almost exclusively a human medicine tool. The veterinary community hasn't yet "embraced the concept," according to Zeltzman, and I've certainly seen evidence of this myself.
Many pet owners still report that their vets won't administer pain medications after extensive surgeries or accidents, despite some clients begging for them. It’s heartbreaking for the animal having to suffer unnecessarily and infuriating that doctors who take an oath to relieve suffering are failing to do so.
Zeltzman, a board-certified veterinary surgeon with a traveling surgery practice covering eastern Pennsylvania and western New Jersey, urges his veterinary colleagues to get onboard with pain scoring.
"With practice, attributing a pain score to cats and dogs will become second nature to you and your team," he says. "It shouldn't be much more complicated than attributing a body condition score to a patient."2
Evaluating Patients Who Can't Tell Us How Much Pain They're In
In veterinary medicine, our patients can't tell us in words how much they're hurting, so pain scoring must be done primarily through observation. It can be used not only with animals who've had surgery, but also any pet dealing with an injury or illness.
Since every animal is an individual with a specific pain threshold, to use pain scoring effectively, we must observe the patient before painkillers are given and before any procedure is attempted, no matter how minor (e.g., a blood draw).
We also need to apply some science to the art of observation when determining a pet's pain score. We need to know average pain levels for the condition the animal has or the surgery about to be performed, and factor those into the equation.
This is necessary because many dogs, and especially cats are stoic even when in significant pain.
"We all have encountered a young Lab hit by a car," says Zeltzman. "Despite extensive open wounds and fractured bones, he might be wagging his tail.
The same applies to cats that may be purring despite significant trauma. Therefore, expected pain levels for a particular surgery or condition are taken into account when we give a pain score."
Benefits of Pain Scoring Veterinary Patients
Dr. Zeltzman explains four benefits for veterinarians and their staffs who measure each patient's pain level:
- Pain scoring increases the awareness of everyone on the vet staff who is caring for the patient. It also allows for customizing and modification of pain management protocols based on the individual pet and the procedure being performed.
"[Using the Colorado Pain Scale] a pain score of 0 or 1 should be our goal," says Zeltzman. "A score of 2, 3 or 4 should lead you to immediately reassess the analgesic plan and better understand what is happening to your patient."
- Zeltzman believes any veterinary clinic can benefit from pain-scoring every animal, just as all patients are weighed, their temperature, pulse and respiration are measured, and their body condition is scored.
- Pain scores are not static — they change over time depending on a wide range of factors, including patient characteristics, veterinary procedures performed, pain medication and dose timing, and others. Pain scores in hospitalized patients should be taken every few hours.
- Zeltzman suggests veterinary staffs incorporate pain scoring as the "fourth vital sign" following temperature, pulse and respiration (TPR) measures.
Colorado State University Pain Scales
Pain scales such as Colorado State University's (CSU) are obviously intended for use by veterinarians and their staffs, but they can also be helpful for pet parents who want to learn what signs to look for to determine if their dog or cat might be in pain.
- Pain score: 0 — No pain present. The patient is happy, acts normally, moves comfortably, has a normal appetite and (if applicable) does not bother the surgery site. TPR is normal.
- Pain score: 1 — Mild pain present. This is usually displayed by a slight limp, difficulty getting up or down or a slight increase in TPR. The patient is eating, tail wagging or purring and not depressed.
- Pain score: 2 — Moderate pain present. The patient shows sensitivity and may lick or chew at the surgical site or wound.
The patient may vocalize, may refuse to eat and may seem depressed, and has slow, shallow respirations. - Pain score: 3 — Severe pain present. Signs include depression, reluctance to move and sensitivity at the surgical site or wound.
The patient will usually not eat, may vocalize and may lie down but not sleep. - Pain score: 4 — Excruciating pain present. The patient shows all the signs described with a pain score of 3, in addition to intermittent panting, increased TPR — even at rest — constant vocalizing, profound depression, dilated pupils, aggressiveness and deep breathing.
To view the full detailed CSU pain scales, which include rough drawings of how your dog or cat might appear with a pain score of 0, 1, etc.: Canine Pain Scale, Feline Pain Scale.
What to Do if Your Pet Seems To Be in Pain
How your animal companion's pain is managed depends on what's causing it, so it's crucially important to make an appointment with your veterinarian for a thorough exam. Once your veterinarian has evaluated your pet and depending on the root cause of his discomfort, there are a number of integrative therapies that blend nicely to reduce the amount of medications needed to manage pain, including:
- Chiropractic
- Therapeutic massage
- Helping your pet stretch
- Acupuncture
- Laser therapy
There are also some newer therapies with good success, including the Assisi Loop, a form of pulsed electromagnetic field therapy. In addition, there are a number of beneficial supplements you can add to your pet's diet, again depending on his diagnosis and treatment protocol.
