Pain Assessment

Question 1

Physiological signs associated with pain

Answer 1

Tachypnoea or panting
Tachycardia
Dilated pupils
Hypertension

Question 2

VAS

Answer 2

Visual analogue scales

Question 3

NRS

Answer 3

Numerical rating scales

Question 4

SDS

Answer 4

Simple descriptive scales

Question 5

Visual Analogue Scale (VAS)

Answer 5

Semiobjective scoring system
A 100mm straight horizontal line anchored with 2 phrases
Observes places a mark on the line corresponding to a degree of pain

Question 6

Numerical rating scales (NRS)

Answer 6

Semiobjective scoring system
Pain scores is assigned as whole numbers
Typically 0-10 is used

Question 7

Simple descriptive scales (SDS)

Answer 7

Semiobjective scoring system
4 or 5 categories of pain intensity
Each descriptor is assigned a number

Question 8

Composite score

Answer 8

Multiple scales are used for differnce aspects of pain behaviour

Question 9

An objective tool to measure pain and its change after analgesia administration

Answer 9

Nociceptive threshold testing

Question 10

Mechanical stimulus nociceptive threshold testing

Answer 10

A blunt ended pin attached to as force or pressure meter, applied to a site next to the painful area. Applied with increading pressure until the animal react to indicate pain (flinching, growling, snapping)
The force at which this occurs is the nociceptive threshold.
If the analgesia is insufficient then the threshold will be low, if adequate analgesia the threshold will be high

Question 11

Tools used to quantify chronic pain in research settings (arthritis)

Answer 11

Force plate analysis
Kinematic gait analysis
Activity monitors