Assessing Pain in Laboratory Species

Abstract

Pain recognition, prevention and alleviation in research animals is important from an animal welfare, ethical and legal standpoint. The ideal pain assessment tool would be reliable, sensitive, valid, practical, easily applicable and generalisable. Whilst there are a number of physiological and behavioural markers available, the latter is more likely to be applicable in clinical decision making. Therefore, the use of animal-based indices and pain-specific behaviours is widespread as a method of pain assessment. There are many challenges in selection of an appropriate pain assessment strategy, including for example species and strain differences in pain-related behaviors. Tools may also be complex, require prior training and experience, or be non-generalisable. Good record maintenance and referral to records aids in the achievement of objectivity in assessment, as well as transparency in decision-making.