{"id":847,"date":"2026-05-17T17:04:43","date_gmt":"2026-05-17T22:04:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.volvethosp.com\/blog\/?p=847"},"modified":"2026-05-17T17:04:50","modified_gmt":"2026-05-17T22:04:50","slug":"pain-scales-for-pets-how-vets-measure-discomfort","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.volvethosp.com\/blog\/pain-scales-for-pets-how-vets-measure-discomfort\/","title":{"rendered":"Pain Scales for Pets: How Vets Measure Discomfort"},"content":{"rendered":"
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When your pet is in distress, your top priority is helping them get comfortable and happy again. While this is what your veterinarian wants, too, it is important to figure out the cause, type, and level of your dog or cat\u2019s discomfort in order to find the right solution. Keep reading to learn more about how vets assess pain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Measuring Pain in Pets<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

There are various pet pain scales that veterinarians can use to assign a measurement to discomfort. Think of the chart that you see in some doctors\u2019 offices with smiling and frowning faces. Your veterinary team<\/a> wants the same sort of information: is this mild discomfort, or is this truly unbearable? The goal of dog or cat pain scoring<\/a> is to find a level or value that will help the doctor plan for medical care and pain management. Since this is a fairly subjective practice, however, different practices might have different pain scales.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Using Signs to Point the Way<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Since pets can\u2019t speak or point to a chart, doctors will look for signals during a veterinary pain evaluation. Some of the more obvious signs of pet distress are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n