Pain recognition and scales for livestock patients

Abstract

No longer is it acceptable to say that farm animals do not need analgesic care. An understanding of pain, physiology, signs of pain unique to livestock and conditions that may require analgesic care are necessary for any veterinary nurse working with livestock species. It is the veterinary nurse’s duty to recognize and assess pain in livestock species to enable better clinical care for their patients. Education for the owner/farmer and entire veterinary staff about pain in livestock is critical.