Animals may experience pain similarly to humans, but expressing it is more challenging. Researchers are finding ways to detect and understand animal suffering.
Pain as a warning signal
Pain acts as a signal that something is wrong and needs attention. While humans can express discomfort, animals may struggle to communicate their pain, leading scientists to study whether animals experience pain in a similar way and how to identify it.Shared biological factors
Mammals have similar nervous systems, neurotransmitters, perceptions, and emotions that contribute to the experience of pain, according to Marc Bekoff, an evolutionary biologist and author. However, it is still unclear if animals experience pain in the exact same way as humans.Animals showing pain signs
There are signs that animals, especially companion animals, communicate physical suffering. For example, Foster, a dog owned by Dorothy Brown, experiences phantom limb pain after losing a leg in a car accident. He sometimes wakes up crying and looks toward where his leg used to be.Recognizing pain in animals
Veterinarians rely on owners to notice behavioral changes that might indicate pain, such as not jumping on the couch or losing appetite. Scientists have also created a "grimace scale" to identify pain in animals like mice, rabbits, rats, and horses based on physical changes like squinting or lowering their ears.Pain in non-mammals
Non-mammals like reptiles cannot show facial expressions as mammals do, and many lack eyelids. However, they still have the neuroanatomy needed to sense pain, and studies show they avoid painful stimuli and respond to pain relief medications.Pain in the wild
In nature, animals like rabbits avoid showing pain to stay safe from predators. Similarly, predators such as wolves may hide their pain to avoid appearing vulnerable to their pack. Birds also have pain receptors and can experience pain in ways similar to mammals.Veterinary care for all animals
Veterinarians treat all animals as if procedures could be painful, even in species like Chelonoidis nigra turtles, which can get injured during mating. Dorothy Brown notes that when a male turtle falls off a female, it can lead to serious injuries that must hurt.
