Horses are the most privileged animals in relation to pain assessment, as this species has the largest number of scales based on body behavior and facial expression, available for various types of surgeries, however there is still no tool considered gold-standard for this purpose. Apparently, human presence inhibits the expression of both normal and pain behaviors, suggesting that a remote assessment may be more adequate to measure pain in this species.
There are several scales available in the literature to assess pain in horses. The Unesp-Botucatu Composite Scale (UHAPS) was originally developed to assess pain in horses undergoing orchiectomy and more recently has also been validated for orthopedic and other soft tissue surgeries as well.
Access the topics below to learn about and use the scale.
Unesp-Botucatu Horse Acute Pain Scale – UHAPS
The UHAPS presents five characteristics:
1) Position
2) Locomotion
3) Response to palpation
4) Heart rate
5) Presence of different behaviors (miscellaneous behaviors)
Each characteristic is scored from 0 to 2, where 0 represents normality or absence of pain and 2 indicates the greatest possible pain.
Unesp-Botucatu Composite Scale to assess pain in horses
(Unesp-Botucatu horse acute pain scale – UHAPS)
1. Positioning in the stall
Score
Videos
The horse’s head is at the outside door or the horse is eating
0
The horse is inside the stall, but looking at the outside door, observing the environment
1
The horse is not close to the outside stall door and does not look interested in the environment
2
2. Locomotion
Score
Videos
The horse moves freely alone
0
The horse does not move, or is reluctant to move
1
The horse is agitated, restless
2
3. Lifting hind limbs
Score
Videos
No lifting of hind limbs
0
Lifting hind limbs
1
Lifting hind limbs and extending the head
2
4. Kicking at the abdomen
Score
Videos
The horse kicks at the abdomen
1
5. Pawing on the floor (fore limbs)
Score
Videos
Pawing
1
6. Looking at the affected area
Score
Videos
The horse looks at the painful area
1
7. Head movement
Score
Videos
Head straight ahead most of the time
0
Lateral and/or vertical occasional head movements
1
Lateral and/or vertical continuous head movements
2
8. Locomotion when led by the evaluator
Score
Videos
The horse moves freely when led
0
The horse does not move, or is reluctant to move when led
1
The horse is agitated, restless
2
9. Heart rate (compared to initial values)
Score
Videos
25-50% increase
1
> 50% increase
2
10. Response to palpation of the painful area
Score
Videos
No response or change in relation to pre-procedure palpation response of the affected area
0
Mild reaction to palpation of the affected area
1
Violent reaction to palpation of the affected area
2
After watching the videos corresponding to all sub-items of each item on the scale, watch the test videos, and analyze and score the behaviors. Then check the responses for each video. You are able to use the scale when your scores are up to 20% higher or lower than the template scores in at least three tests.
Decision to perform analgesia*
Maximum score
Analgesic intervention score
(cut-off point)
Full scale
17
≥ 5
* Regardless of the score, it is up to the veterinarian to decide whether or not to use analgesics, according to the clinical evaluation.
After reading and training the previous items, click below to assess pain in your animal.