Recognition of Pain and animal welfare and neurological disorders

what is the point of recognising pain

uphold the veterinary oath

ethical responsibility to sentient beings

legal complaince

guide clinical decisions - treatment, euthanasia and rehoming

prevent unnecessary suffering

how does pain vary

between species

between context

between individuals

what are the effects of chronic stress

higher HR

higher cortisol as the body is constantly in fight-or flight so has a high BCS and immunosuppression, and cognitive function

hiding and pacing

what causes chronic stress

handling

illness

environment

what does chronic pain lead to

chronic stress

what is included in suffering as well as the typical pain and stress

fear

boredom

frustration

why do prey species differ in display of pain

hide illnesses as weak will be targeted by predators

use a camera - change behaviour when you leave the room

what arethe general behaviours showing mental state that vary between species?

ear position

teeth grinding

squinting

harder in extreme breeds - change of appearance

build-up or wastage of muscle

symptoms of acute pain

vocalisation - varies between individuals

higher HR - will iincrease in practice anyway

teeth grinding

high respiratory rate

flinching

guarding

limping

hunched

lower appetite

aggression

licking

symptoms of chronic pain

less obvious as the animal has learnt ot manage it and we are used to their changed behaviour

lameness

loss of appetite and weight loss

change in social behaviour - aggression, withdrawal

dull coat and poor grooming like in cats with osteoarthritis at 8 years old upwards

obtunded

physiological indicators of pain

higher HR

higher respiratory rate

higher BP

pupil dilation

higher cocrtisol levels - measured in zoos

reduced immunity

quantitative tools to assess pain

glasgow and colorado state pain scales

grimace scale in mice, cat and horse

behavioural scoring

response to analgesics

mouse grimace scale

more data due to used in research

orbital tightening, nose bulging, cheek bulging, ear position and whisker change

cat grimace scale

post-operative hospitals

horse grimace scales

used in equine surgery, lameness evaluation

but prey behaviour and handler safety

5 factors assessed in welfare

physical health

emotional health

social interactions

environment

procedures

what are the 3 features of welfare assessments (ad hoc)

ad hoc (AS NEEDED)

objective

consistent

quantitative vs qualitative

quantitative - putting a number for comparison over time and to convince an owner, also for communication, like grimace scale or BCS

qualitative - description of animal history, clinical exam and mental state, observational and response to pain relief used to add colour

what is the point of no return

where the severity of symptoms is high enough and you are far enough from being recovered

what does AWAG stand for

animal welfare assessment grid

what is AWAG

welfare domains over time

physical

psychological

procedural and environmental

plotted in 3d to see changes over time

qualitative and quantitative included in each section

how to know if treatment was painful or not

do assessment the day of treatment

if decreases after that then it was painful but is fine now

if low before and doesn’t decrease then you know the procedure was painful

if high before and high afterwards then the animal was already suffering

how to initially spot an ill animal

look at whether all animals match in behaviour - cold or ill

what are the two causes of neurological disorders

primary - issues with receptors or effectors, or PNS and CNS nerves

secondary - due to other conditions like a bone or tumour pressing on a nerve

clinical manifestations of neurological diseases

mental status - over excited or depressed

involuntary movements like seizures, dyskinesia and tremors

co-ordination and balance

posture and gait - muscle tone abnormality #howmanytimes

sensory disturbances - manage environment

autononic nervous system - pupil size, salivation, digestion, hypo/hyperthermia, urination and defecation

problems arising from urination and defecation control

animal is uncomfortable as can’t tell owner when to empty

infection risk

managmeent burden on the owner

lower quality of life - no perception of time

cat - discouraged by your presence

behavioural signs of neurological disorders

change in response - unpredictable affects social groups, removing from group changes hierarchial standing

breeding standards - syringomyelia and hip dysplasia lead to stereotypic and aggressive animals due to pain

what is contextualised care

providing care specific to the owner and animal’s needs

but then consider effect on quality of life if not the ideal decision

causes of epilepsy

idiopathic

structural

genetic - breed so don’t reproduce from these - more commonly males

metabolic

toxic

signs of a seizure

anxiety, restlessnessd

during a seizure

paddling

rigidity

vocalisaiton

loss of consciousness and memory

after a seizure (post-ictal)

confusion

gait changes

weight

pain

electrolyte disturbances

behavioural changes - frustration, fear, hyperactivity, attention deficits

what happens with repeated seizures

cumulative effects - longer increase recovery time and post-ictal complications

reduced QOL for animal and owner

medical implications of seizures

injury risk in convulsions

aspiration pneumonia - stomach contents enter lunbs

vascular inflammation pain

QOL of owner

financial and care burder

severity, frequency and post-ictal impacts

drug resistance and side-effects

what is a poor welfare cycle

a lack of everything so a feedback loop of declining welfare - positive feedback

interventions

medication

training - go to a relaxing place during a seizure

kit for after a seizure like blankets and cotton wool

diagnositics with MRI EEG but require sedation and recovery as stressful

record details of seizures - aim for lower severity and frequency