Abstract
Objective
To develop a method for objective assessment of equine post–operative pain.
Study design
Prospective nonblinded clinical study.
Animals
Twelve adult horses: Group 1 (G1, n = 6), admitted for arthroscopy (under general anaesthesia, with multimodal analgesia);
Group 2 (G2, n = 6), ‘pain free’ controls.
Materials and methods
Horses were filmed continuously (CVI, time–lapse video recorder) over 72 hours, from
24 hours pre–surgery (PS) to 48 hours post–recovery (PR) (G1), and over 24 hours (G2).
Activity budgets were determined from 24 to 0 hours PS, 0–24 and 24–48 hours PR (G1)
and for 24 hours (G2). Using direct observation (DO), active behaviours and postures
were recorded at set time points PS and PR (G1) and at two time points (morning/evening)
(G2). Heart rate (HR) and respiration rate (RR) were recorded simultaneously. Statistical
analysis investigated within–group and between–group time–related changes in behaviour,
HR and RR.
Results
There was no difference in HR or RR between G1 and G2 at any time point. Anaesthetic
‘hangover’ and hunger–related activity modulated behaviour from 0 to 6 hours PR, when
abnormal postures and locomotion occurred in all G1 horses, but no G2 horses. Compared
with G1 (0–24 hours PR), G2 spent more time eating (t = −3.34, p < 0.01), more time at the front of the stable (t = −2.42, p < 0.05), and less time exhibiting ‘abnormal’ behaviour (U = 56, p < 0.01). Comparing PS and PR behaviour, G1 spent less time exploring from 24 to 48
hours PR (t = 3.49, p < 0.05), less time in sternal recumbency (t = −3.8, p < 0.05) and less time moving (t = 3.19, p < 0.05). Horses tended (p < 0.07) to spend less time positioned in the front of the stable PR (less from 24
to 48 hours PR than from 0 to 24 hours PR). Comparing PR (evening) behaviour, G2 spent
more time with head above withers (U = 21.5, p < 0.01), and ears forwards (U = 22, p < 0.01). G1 showed time–related changes (all p < 0.05) in time with lower lip tense (S = 15.8), eating (S = 17.08) and with head positioned above withers (S = 18.04). No differences in event behaviours were observed between G1 and G2. Within
G1, only olfactory behaviour varied significantly with time (S = 14.52, p < 0.05).
Conclusions
Changes in equine behaviour suggestive of post–operative discomfort were identified
using both DO and CVI. Analysis of activity budgets may be a more sensitive method
of identifying behavioural changes indicative of equine discomfort than repeated DO
of specific events and postures.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Accepted:
August 15,
2002
Received:
February 10,
2002
Identification
Copyright
© 2003 Association of Veterinary Anaesthetists and American College of Veterinary Anesthesia and Analgesia. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
