Among farm animals, pigs receive the least treatment for pain, as veterinarians find it difficult to recognize pain in pigs and the use of analgesics is restricted in this species for reasons of food consumption. Studies show that neutered pigs with local anesthesia gain more weight than neutered pigs without local anesthesia.
The Unesp-Botucatu Composite Scale for Pain Assessment in Pigs (UPAPS – Botucatu Pig Acute Pain Scale), in addition to quantifying pain, also presents a numerical criterion indicating the need for analgesic intervention (cut-off point).
The UPAPS has already been validated for both 40-day-old pigs, and for lactating newborn piglets.
Here you can find the description of the behaviors evaluated on the scale:
Description of the behaviors evaluated in the ethogram of pigs submitted to orchiectomy (castration)
Normal behavior
Stand inactive
Standing still, without expression of other normal behaviors
Walk
Walking
Sit
Seated
Lie down
At rest, lying down
Sleep
Sleeping
Eat
Eating from the trough
Drink
Drinking water
Root
Exploring the environment, rooting around the pen, or lying down
Urinate/ Defecate
Act of urinating or defecating
Friendly social interactions
Lick
Perform small chewing movements while touching another animal
Smell
Smelling another piglet standing or lying down
Aggressive social interaction
Fight
Direct physical confrontation, with head butts, pushes, bites and chases, in rapid and continuous succession
Stereotypical behavior
Bite
Biting parts of the pen (bars, trough)
Run/ Agitated
Visibly stressed, running around the pen; disturbed, with escapist behavior
Behavior indicative of pain
Altered posture
Presenting one or more repetitions of abnormal behaviors: standing kicking, scratching/rubbing the affected area (example surgical wound), protecting the affected area (example surgical wound), contracted muscles, arched back, and energetic tail wagging
Difficulty walking
Difficulty walking, apparent discomfort in the perineal region, contraction of scrotal region, and energetic tail wagging
Lie down alone
Quiet, lying alone in the pen, not allowing interaction
Lie down uncomfortably
Changes posture with apparent discomfort, tail wagging and/or rubbing the affected area (example surgical wound) on the floor
To learn about and use the scale, access the topics below.
Unesp-Botucatu Composite Scale for pain assessment in pigs
(UPAPS – Unesp-Botucatu Pig Acute Pain Scale)
The UPAPS presents 6 characteristics:
1) Posture
2) Interaction and interest in the environment
3) Activity
4) Appetite
5) Attention to the affected area
6) Diverse behaviors (miscellaneous behaviors)
Each characteristic comprises 4 levels scored from 0 to 3, where 0 represents normality or absence of pain and 3 indicates the most intense pain.
Unesp-Botucatu Composite Scale to assess acute pain in pigs (UPAPS)
1. Posture
Score
Videos
Normal (any position, apparent comfort, relaxed muscles) or sleeping
0
Changes posture, with discomfort
1
Changes posture, with discomfort, and protects the affected area
2
Quiet, tense, and back arched
3
2. Interaction and interest in the surroundings
Score
Videos
Interacts with other animals; interested in the surroundings or sleeping
0
Only interacts if stimulated by other animals; interested in the surroundings
1
Occasionally moves away from the other animals, but accepts approaches; shows little interest in the surroundings
2
Moves or runs away from other animals and does not allow approaches; disinterested in the surroundings
3
3. Activity
Score
Videos
Moves normally or sleeping
0
Moves with less frequency
1
Moves constantly, restless
2
Reluctant to move or does not move
3
4. Appetite
Score
Videos
Normal appetite
0
Increased appetite
1
Decreased appetite
2
No appetite
3
5) Attention to the affected area
Videos
A – Elevates pelvic limb or alternates the support of the pelvic limb
B – Scratches or rubs the painful area
C – Moves and/or runs away and/or jumps after contact of the affected area
D – Sits with difficulty
Score
All the above behaviors are absent
0
Presence of one of the above behaviors
1
Presence of two of the above behaviors
2
Presence of three or all of the above behaviors
3
6) Miscellaneous behaviors
Videos
A – Wags tail continuously and intensely
B – Bites the bars or objects
C – The head is below the line of the spinal column
D – Presents difficulty in overcoming obstacles (example: other animal)
Score
All the above behaviors are absent
0
Presence of one of the above behaviors
1
Presence of two of the above behaviors
2
Presence of three or all of the above behaviors
3
Total
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.
Decision to perform analgesia*
Score
Analgesic intervention score
(cut-off point)
UPAPS
0 to 18
≥ 4
Diagnostic uncertainty zone: scores between 3 and 6
Numerical scale
0 to 10
≥ 3
Simple descriptive scale
0 to 3
≥ 2
Visual analogue scale
0 – 100 mm
≥ 33 mm
* 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.