Do we really know whether an animal is in pain?

Pain has been a key topic of interest amongst scientific research to improve the understanding of how animals express signs of pain whilst also determining which therapeutic approaches effectivley reduce pain for both veterinary professionals and animal owners.

What exactly is pain?

Pain can be experienced when nociceptors (receptors which detect pain) that lie beneath the skin detects potential damaging stimuli which is typically triggered by an unpleasant thermal (e.g. burning sensation), mechanical or chemical irritation (e.g. inflammation from damaged tissue).

Animals are then able to feel pain when the nocicpetors send a pain signal to the brain. During this signal transmission two types of nerve fibres are involved:

Veterinary physiotherapy works in accordance with the animal welfare act (2006) with one of the needs of animals 'to be protected from pain, suffering, injury or disease.'