Validated Clinical Metrology Instruments (CMIs) are the cornerstone of objective chronic pain assessment in senior dogs and cats, supplemented by physical examination, owner-completed questionnaires, and client-captured video of the animal in its home environment.AAHA Clinical G…+1

For dogs, the Canine Brief Pain Inventory (Canine BPI) and the Liverpool Osteoarthritis in Dogs (LOAD) questionnaire are recommended for in-clinic use based on current evidence.WSAVA Global Gu… Additional validated tools include the Glasgow Composite Short Form Pain Scale, the Helsinki Chronic Pain Index (HCPI), the UNESP-Botucatu Multidimensional Composite Pain Scale, and the Colorado State Pain Scale.WSAVA Global Gu… Physical examination and clinic observation require moderate training and serve screening and monitoring purposes, but neither is formally validated as a stand-alone pain assessment.AAHA Clinical G… Physiological variables — heart rate, respiration, and blood pressure — are simple to obtain but are not specific indicators of pain.AAHA Clinical G…

For cats, the Feline Musculoskeletal Pain Index (FMPI) and the Client-Specific Outcome Measure (CSOM) are recommended for monitoring pain signs and treatment response, while the feline MiPSC (Montreal Instrument for Cat Arthritis Testing screening component) is recommended for screening at-risk patients.WSAVA Global Gu… Additional validated feline CMIs include the Montreal Instrument for Cat Arthritis Testing (MI-CAT) and the Feline Physical Function Formula (FPFF).WSAVA Global Gu… All of these instruments are completed by the caregiver and are designed to measure the impact of degenerative joint disease pain and to monitor treatment efficacy; they also assist with initial diagnosis when administered at the outset.WSAVA Global Gu… Veterinary technicians and nurses are valuable for introducing pain scales to caregivers and guiding their use, whether at the appointment or via telemedicine.WSAVA Global Gu…

Client-captured video of the pet ambulating, jumping, or interacting in its home environment is a practical adjunct that can detect early neuropathic or musculoskeletal disease and monitor responses to medications and therapies — particularly useful in large-breed dogs with degenerative joint disease and in cats, whose chronic pain behavioral changes are often subtle.AAHA Clinical G… Chronic pain scales and mobility checklists used together provide complementary information for both clinician and client during the senior appointment.AAHA Clinical G…

Reassessment and owner involvement are explicitly identified as essential components of any chronic pain assessment protocol, not optional add-ons.AAHA Clinical G…

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