As sedation can interfere with pain assessment, especially in the postoperative period, it is also interesting to use sedation scales for decision-making regarding the use of analgesics.
Access the topics below to learn about and use the scales.
Touch the ear, apply pressure on the coronary band of the hoof of the thoracic and pelvic limbs and assess postural stability, and auditory and visual stimuli.
For each item, choose only one score referring to the highest representative value of the animal’s behavior. Scores range from 0 (no sedation or tranquilization) to 3 (maximum sedation or tranquilization). The sum of the total score ranges from 0 (no sedation or tranquilization) to 18 (maximum sedation or tranquilization).
EquiSed: Scale to assess the quality and degree of sedation and tranquilization in horses
1. Touch the ear (Touch inside the ears with blunt tipped material for three seconds)
Score
Videos
Intense movement of the ear and head and/or neck and body movement
0
Intense movement of the ear and/or head and/or neck
1
Slight movement of the ear and/or head and/or neck
2
No response
3
2. Press the coronary band of thoracic limb (Apply strong pressure for three seconds with blunt tipped material on the coronary band of thoracic limb)
Score
Videos
Raises the limb quickly before or when touched and/or moves the other limbs and/or head and/or trunk
0
Raises the limb slowly
1
Moves the limb slowly without raising it
2
No response
3
3. Press the coronary band of pelvic limb (Apply strong pressure for three seconds with blunt tipped material on the coronary band of pelvic limb)
Score
Videos
Raises the limb quickly before or when touched and/or moves the other limbs and/or head and/or trunk
0
Raises the limb slowly
1
Moves the limb slowly without raising it
2
No response
3
4. Postural instability (Observe the stationary animal and then forcefully push it laterally)
Score
Videos
No swaying. Weight bearing on all limbs, or resting one limb
0
No or slight swaying. One limb abducted (wide stance)
1
Moderate swaying. Thoracic and/or pelvic limbs abducted (wide stance), and/or one limb misaligned
2
Intense swaying, risk of falling down or falling down. Abducts (wide stance) the thoracic and/or pelvic limbs, and/or one limb misaligned or crossed
3
5. Auditory (Response to loud hand clap behind the animal)
Escore
Vídeos
Rapid movement of the head and/or neck and/or ear(s) and body movement
0
Rapid movement of the head and/or neck and/or ear(s)
1
Slow movement of the head and/or neck and/or ear(s)
2
No response
3
6. Visual (Response to opening an umbrella in front of the animal)
Escore
Vídeos
Moves the head and/or neck and/or ear(s) and limb(s)
0
Intense movement of the head and/or neck and/or ear(s)
1
Slight movement of the head and/or neck and/or ear(s)
2
No response
3
Maximum possible sum of the EquiSed
18
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.
Information on the degree of sedation
EquiSed
Numerical scale
Simple descriptive scale
Visual analogue scale
(0 -)
Maximum score on the scale
18
10
3
100 mm
Horses considered not sedated
≤ 7
≤ 4
< 43 mm
Horses considered sedated
≥ 8
≥ 5
≥ 1
≥ 43
Diagnostic uncertainty zone: between 7 and 10
After reading and training the previous items, click below to assess sedation in your animal.
The advantage of the FaceSed over the EquiSed is that you only watch the horse, without the need for interaction. On the other hand, it cannot be used for procedures on the face or when the face is covered.
The position of the ears, eye opening, and relaxation of the lower and upper lips are evaluated.
For each item, choose only one score referring to the highest representative value of the animal’s facial expression. Scores range from 0 (no sedation or tranquilization) to 2 (maximum sedation or tranquilization). The sum of the total score ranges from 0 (no sedation or tranquilization) to 8 (maximum sedation or tranquilization).
Facial Scale to assess sedation in horses (FaceSed)
After seeing the images of each item on the scale, see the pictures, analyze and score the behaviors. Then check the responses for each image. 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.
Information on the degree of sedation
FaceSed
Maximum score of the scale
8
Horses considered not sedated
< 6
Horses considered reasonably sedated
(cut-off point)
≥ 6
Diagnostic uncertainty zone: between 5 and 6
After reading and training the previous items, click below to assess sedation in your animal.