Editor’s Note: This is an excerpt from Research Wrapped, a free monthly newsletter that collects the latest scientific research relevant to small animal veterinarians and pulls out practical takeaways. To be the first to receive this newsletter each month, subscribe here.
We all know the clear physical indicators of chronic pain in our canine patients (e.g., stiffness, changes in gait) and even the subtle ones (e.g., yawning, lip-licking). But what if we’re not seeing the whole picture? This month’s featured study takes a closer look at chronic pain, providing a few interesting takeaways on its profound impact on every aspect of a dog’s life, behavioral changes that can predict chronic pain at an earlier stage, and more.Â
We spoke with the lead author on the study, Rachel Malkani, PhD, MSc, to see how these findings can be put into practice.
What is the most important takeaway from this study?
Dr. Malkani: Chronic pain resulting from musculoskeletal conditions impacts the whole life of the dog, not just their physical health. Their emotional health, resilience, social interactions, and how they engage with the environment, amongst other factors, are shown to be significantly different compared to healthy dogs. Physical health is only one aspect of the overall picture of welfare.
What surprised you the most about the study’s findings?
Dr. Malkani: The number of positive correlations between factors was an interesting finding. These highlight how each factor is not an independent measure of welfare, but interconnected with one another. For example, a veterinary procedure such as a cruciate surgery may result in pain during recovery. The clinician’s immediate concern is typically centered on physical pain and rest during the recovery. However, pain is just one element of interrelated effects on the dog’s overall welfare. Post-surgery, the dog typically requires restricted movement due to necessary confinement or cage rest, which impacts its autonomy and choice. These invariably limit social interactions. The inability to perform usual activities and limited opportunity for social interaction can lead to frustration, causing negative effects. The emotional and social needs of the dog are equally vital and warrant similar attention and care. To ensure a comprehensive recovery, it’s essential to integrate strategies that support the dog’s emotional wellbeing and social interactions alongside the physical rehabilitation process. This approach involves addressing the dog’s individual needs, which may include planning for environmental enrichment that is safe and suitable for the dog’s physical condition, providing opportunities for positive, low-stress social interactions, and implementing behavioral management to reduce any anxiety and frustration that may occur.
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What can veterinarians do with your findings to improve a dog’s clinical experience?
Dr. Malkani: The analysis identifying factors that are predictive of chronic pain may be the most remarkable and beneficial to veterinary professionals. (These include: recovery time from a stressor, the frequency at which a dog encounters fear and anxiety-inducing stimuli, and the quality of social interactions.) The ability to detect these conditions early is instrumental in implementing prompt treatment, which can be more effective than intervention at later stages. Early intervention can also slow the progression of disease and management can also be economically beneficial as it can potentially reduce the need for more extensive and costly treatments that might be required if the condition were to progress.
As discussed in the study, a sense of control is important for reducing anxiety and depression in humans. When dogs consistently encounter situations that they have no control over such as chronic pain, it is likely to have a negative impact on their emotional state. Therefore, increasing the dog’s ability to control and predict different situations may help improve their welfare.
The Study:
How does chronic pain impact the lives of dogs: an investigation of factors that are associated with pain using the Animal Welfare Assessment Grid.
Malkani R, Paramasivam S, Wolfensohn S. Front Vet Sci. doi:10.3389/fvets.2024.1374858