HEALTH & WELFARE: VETWATCH
t PAIN h e c t V a W MANAGEME IN HORSES
syndromes. In humans and in horses, pain can have a negative impact on behaviour and performance.
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reedom from pain is an essential part of horse welfare and, as horses can’t talk, it’s essential that their owners or carers can recognise when there is a problem. The International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP) defines pain as “an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with actual or potential tissue damage.” The IASP adds, “Verbal description is only one of several behaviours to express pain;
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By Stephanie Fitzgerald MVB MRCVS
inability to communicate does not negate the possibility that a human or a nonhuman animal experiences pain.” Why is pain management Important? Pain management plays an important role in recovery from injury or illness. In humans, the benefits of adequate management include fewer complications, earlier discharge from hospital and reduction in the development of chronic pain
How do you know if your horse is in pain? Early detection of pain is crucial so it can be managed effectively. In lameness cases, for example, early diagnosis can play an important role in successful treatment and resolution of the problem, resulting in a better prognosis for long-term soundness. However, recognising pain in horses can be challenging. Horses are prey animals and are instinctively programmed to hide their vulnerability to predators. Horses are also known for their individual variation in displaying signs of pain. For example, highly anxious or temperamental horses may be more likely to
