Minimal

Mild

Mild to Moderate

Reassessanalgesic plan

Moderate

Reassessanalgesic plan

Moderate toSevere

May be rigid toavoid painful

movement

Reassessanalgesic plan

Pain Score Psychological & BehavioralExample Response to Palpation Body Tension

Comments

© 2006/PW Hellyer, SR Uhrig, NG Robinson

Feline Acute Pain Scale

Date

Time

Tender to palpationWarmTense

Rescore when awake

1

2

3

4

0Content and quiet when unattendedComfortable when restingInterested in or curious about surroundings

Constantly yowling, growling, or hissing whenunattendedMay bite or chew at wound, but unlikely to moveif left alone

ProstratePotentially unresponsive to or unaware ofsurroundings, difficult to distract from painReceptive to care (even aggressive or feralcats will be more tolerant of contact)

May not respond to palpationMay be rigid to avoid painfulmovement

Growls or hisses at non-painfulpalpation (may be experiencingallodynia, wind-up, or fearful thatpain could be made worse) Reacts aggressively to palpation,adamantly pulls away to avoidany contact

May or may not react to palpationof wound or surgery site

Not bothered by palpation ofwound or surgery site, or topalpation elsewhere

Animal is sleeping, but can be aroused - Not evaluated for pain Animal can’t be aroused, check vital signs, assess therapy

Signs are often subtle and not easily detected inthe hospital setting; more likely to be detected bythe owner(s) at homeEarliest signs at home may be withdrawal fromsurroundings or change in normal routineIn the hospital, may be content or slightly unsettledLess interested in surroundings but will lookaround to see what is going on

Decreased responsiveness, seeks solitudeQuiet, loss of brightness in eyesLays curled up or sits tucked up (all four feetunder body, shoulders hunched, head heldslightly lower than shoulders, tail curled tightlyaround body) with eyes partially or mostly closedHair coat appears rough or fluffed upMay intensively groom an area that is painful orirritatingDecreased appetite, not interested in food

Responds aggressively or tries toescape if painful area is palpatedor approachedTolerates attention, may even perkup when petted as long as painfularea is avoided

RIGHT LEFT

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