The dogs that had the lowest-average owner-reported pain scores were dogs with elbow dysplasia. 

The findings reinforce the importance of using validated pain assessment tools. 

New research by the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies has shown that dogs with identical orthopaedic conditions can experience different levels of pain and impact on quality of life.

The study involved 200 dogs referred to the School’s Hospital for Small Animals with one of five orthopaedic conditions, including hip and elbow dysplasia, arthritis, and cruciate ligament injuries. Prior to treatment, owners complete two validated questionnaires measuring chronic pain and a quality-of-life survey assessing its impact on their dog’s everyday activities. 

Researchers found that the type of condition did not reliably predict how much pain a dog experiences or how much its quality of life was affected. However, they did observe considerable variation between individual dogs, even among those with the same diagnosis.

The dogs that had the lowest-average owner-reported pain scores were dogs with elbow dysplasia, while those with the highest were dogs with cranial cruciate. The team notes that pain levels varies widely within every group, indicating that diagnosis alone does not predict how severely an individual dog is affected.

The findings highlight the importance of using validated pain assessment tools during routine veterinary consultations. These tools provide a structured way to measure the impact of chronic pain on a dog’s life, allowing physicians to tailor treatments to each patients specific needs.

Researchers hope the wider use of validated pain assessment tools will support more personalised care for dogs with orthopaedic disease and guide future treatment decisions. 

Professor Dylan Clements, Professor of Small Animal Orthopaedics, said: “Just because a dog has a particular orthopaedic condition doesn't define how much that condition affects them. 

“We found huge variation between individual dogs, which reinforces the importance of assessing pain directly rather than making assumptions based on diagnosis alone. These clinical pain assessment tools can help veterinarians better understand each patient's needs and tailor treatment accordingly.”

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