Pain and Problem Behavior in Cats and Dogs

Abstract

We argue that there is currently an under-reporting of the ways in which pain can be associated with problem behavior, which is seriously limiting the recognition of this welfare problem. A review of the caseloads of 100 recent dog cases of several authors indicates that a conservative estimate of around a third of referred cases involve some form of painful condition, and in some instances, the figure may be nearly 80%. The relationship is often complex but always logical. Musculoskeletal but also painful gastro-intestinal and dermatological conditions are commonly recognized as significant to the animal's problem behavior. The potential importance of clinical abnormalities such as an unusual gait or unexplained behavioral signs should not be dismissed by clinicians in general practice, even when they are common within a given breed. In general, it is argued that clinicians should err on the side of caution when there is a suspicion that a patient could be in pain by carefully evaluating the patient's response to trial analgesia, even if a specific physical lesion has not been identified.

Keywords: adjunctive behavior; aggression; attention seeking; compulsive behavior; house-soiling; pain; pica; stereotypy.

Figure 1

Intensity of fear/anxiety in five contexts for a patient scored before and after receiving analgesia. Frequency score: never = 0, rarely = 1, frequently = 2, every time = 3; intensity score: 1 = small amount − 5 = extensive amount.