SPECIES SPECIFIC BEHAVIOURAL SIGNS OF PAIN
Species
cat
Vocalizing
Posture
Locomotion
growl or hiss, but
stiff, hunched in sternal
reluctant to move, may
mostly silent
recumbency, limbs tucked
carry limb
Temperament
reclusive
under body
cattle
chicken
grunting; teeth
rigid; head down; back
limps; reluctant to move
dull, depressed; act violent when
grinding
humped
painful area
handled
gasping
stand on one foot;
none
lethargic; allow handling
drag hind legs
subdued, quiet, restless, or vicious;
hunched; huddled
dog
guinea pig
whimper, howl,
Increase in acute pain,
growl
Decrease in chronic pain
urgent repetitive
cower, crouch, recumbent
squeals
horse
grunting, nickering
varies from acute to chronic pain
reluctant to move; walk in
docile, quiet; or terrified, agitated
circles or pace
rigid; head lowered; kicks
favour area in pain
at abdomen
restless; agitated; an become
aggressive
nonhuman
scream, moan,
head forward, arms across
excessive motion to tonic
primate
grunt
body; huddled and
immobility, depending on
crouching
pain severity
huddled; hunched and
unwilling to move; unable
inactive, drooping; miserable
"fluffed up"
to stand
appearance
increase in
all 4 feet close together
inactive; drag hind legs
passive to aggressive, depending
squealing to no
under body
other birds
pig
chirping
docile to aggressive
on pain severity
sound at all
rabbit
piercing squeal on
hunched; face back of cage
Increase
acute pain
apprehensive; dull; sometimes
aggressive depending on pain
severity; eats neonates
rodent
squeak, squeal
rounded back; head tilted;
ataxia; running in circles
back rigid
sheep
teeth grinding;
grunting
rigid; head down
docile or aggressive, depending on
pain severity; eats neonates
limps, reluctant to move
disinterested in surroundings; dull,
painful area
depressed
Reprinted from Rollins and Kessel. The Experimental Animal in Research, Vol. 1, CRC Press, 1990.