Signs of Pain in Rats

[SQ]

Signs of pain in rats due to illness, injury, or surgical procedures can vary based on severity. The signs of pain have been listed here by category based on the following: mild to moderate pain, severe or chronic pain, or post-procedure pain. Note that some signs of pain, depending upon severity and type, may overlap into another category. Not every sign may present based on the level of pain, and the individual rat’s personality. Knowing your rat’s normal daily behavior will better allow you to recognize the signs of pain your rat may exhibit and to aid your veterinarian in achieving better pain control for your pet rat.

Mild to Moderate Pain

•Squinting eyes
•Porphyrin around eyes/nose
•Piloerection/rough coat
•Increased aggression
•Decreased exploratory behavior
•Vocalization when prodded (may or may not present)
•Licking/scratching/self-trauma
•Guarding (protecting painful area)
•Reluctance to move
•Grinding of teeth (not attributed to pleasure)
•Reduce appetite

Adapted from: 1. Waynforth HB, Flecknell PA , Experimental and Surgical Technique in the Rat, 2nd Edn, Academic Press, New York, (1992). 2. University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee Animal Care Program: Signs of Pain and Distress in Rodents 3. Fallon et,al; Post-Procedure Care of Mice and Rats in Research: Reducing Pain and Distress 4. Kohn et,al; (2006) Guidelines for the Assessment and Management of Pain in Rodents and Rabbits, and references listed on References page of Rat Health Guide Index.

Posted on March 21, 2010, 20:50, Last updated on April 5, 2010, 18:10

from: http://ratguide.com/health/basics/signs ... n_rats.php

 

[SQ]

Signs of pain in rats due to illness, injury, or surgical procedures can vary based on severity. The signs of pain have been listed here by category based on the following: mild to moderate pain, severe or chronic pain, or post-procedure pain. Note that some signs of pain, depending upon severity and type, may overlap into another category. Not every sign may present based on the level of pain, and the individual rat’s personality. Knowing your rat’s normal daily behavior will better allow you to recognize the signs of pain your rat may exhibit and to aid your veterinarian in achieving better pain control for your pet rat.

Post-procedural Pain

•Squinting of eyes
•Decreased activity
•Increased back arching
•Horizontal stretching
•Abdominal Writhing
•Abnormal gait (e.g.,falling/teetering/staggering)
•Guarding (protecting painful area)
•Twitching
•Decreased grooming
•Porphyrin
•Piloerection of hair
•Decreased food and water intake
•Aggression
•Avoidance of contact with human
•Tachycardia (faster than normal heart rate)
•Tachypnia (faster than normal breathing)
•PICA (eating of non-food substances, note: may be seen with the use of certain opioids)

Adapted from: 1. Waynforth HB, Flecknell PA , Experimental and Surgical Technique in the Rat, 2nd Edn, Academic Press, New York, (1992). 2. University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee Animal Care Program: Signs of Pain and Distress in Rodents 3. Fallon et,al; Post-Procedure Care of Mice and Rats in Research: Reducing Pain and Distress 4. Kohn et,al; (2006) Guidelines for the Assessment and Management of Pain in Rodents and Rabbits, and references listed on References page of Rat Health Guide Index.

Posted on March 21, 2010, 20:50, Last updated on April 5, 2010, 18:10 | Basics

from: http://ratguide.com/health/basics/signs ... n_rats.php

 

[SQ]

Signs of pain in rats due to illness, injury, or surgical procedures can vary based on severity. The signs of pain have been listed here by category based on the following: mild to moderate pain, severe or chronic pain, or post-procedure pain. Note that some signs of pain, depending upon severity and type, may overlap into another category. Not every sign may present based on the level of pain, and the individual rat’s personality. Knowing your rat’s normal daily behavior will better allow you to recognize the signs of pain your rat may exhibit and to aid your veterinarian in achieving better pain control for your pet rat.

Severe or Chronic Pain

•Eyes closed
•Poor skin tone
•Muscle wasting
•Dehydration
•Weight loss
•Depressed
•Unresponsive
•Sunken/distended abdomen
•Hypothermia
•PICA (eating of non-food substances)
•Self-trauma
•Inappetence
•Change in fluid intake
•Hunched posture- Head tucked
•Head pressing/bumping
•Vocalization- May or may not be present (do not rely on this sign alone)
•Abnormal gait (e.g.,ataxia, limping)
•Poor grooming
•Incontinence
•Labored breathing
•Curling up biting own feet (seen primarily with ureteral/bladder stones)
•Avoidance of contact with human
•Huddled facing corner in cage
•Whimper (similar to dog whine but softer sounding heard in acute, severe pain)
•Tachycardia (faster than normal heart rate)
•Tachypnia (faster than normal breathing)


Adapted from: 1. Waynforth HB, Flecknell PA , Experimental and Surgical Technique in the Rat, 2nd Edn, Academic Press, New York, (1992). 2. University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee Animal Care Program: Signs of Pain and Distress in Rodents 3. Fallon et,al; Post-Procedure Care of Mice and Rats in Research: Reducing Pain and Distress 4. Kohn et,al; (2006) Guidelines for the Assessment and Management of Pain in Rodents and Rabbits, and references listed on References page of Rat Health Guide Index.

Posted on March 21, 2010, 20:50, Last updated on April 5, 2010, 18:10 | Basics

from: http://ratguide.com/health/basics/signs ... n_rats.php

 

[Rachael]

I'm glad Rat Guide added this. Thanks for posting... should be a sticky I think.

 

[smilez_n_hugs]

Very good info to have on hand.

 

[jorats]

I'll be copying this over to the Reference guide.
Thank you SQ!!

 

[Godmother]

Great info, SQ! Makes me wonder about Clara.

 

[MomRat]

What about foot shuffling? My boy just had surgery today, and every time he grooms his incision area a bit, he sits back up and drums his front paws on the floor, and shuffles them back and forth. Is this pain? We have metacam to give 1x daily, but he's over 12 hours away from his next dose...

 

[xxchelle]

What about foot shuffling? My boy just had surgery today, and every time he grooms his incision area a bit, he sits back up and drums his front paws on the floor, and shuffles them back and forth. Is this pain? We have metacam to give 1x daily, but he's over 12 hours away from his next dose...

Hmm... that almost sounds like he's marking his territory. I've had rats shuffle like that when they're trying to get their scent in a clean cage.

 

[MomRat]

That's super weird, cause he's not the alpha, and only does it after he prods at his incision - the cage was cleaned Yesterday, but they got most of their marking out of the way yesterday as usual. He's doing it in out time areas too. :emb: Guess we'll just keep an eye on him.

 

[xxchelle]

I could be wrong, but that's what it sounds like to me... I'll let others weigh in before ruling out pain, though.

Can you get a video?

 

[MomRat]

I'll try, next time he's up. =)

 

[jorats]

Does he do this right after getting his meds?

 

[MomRat]

He didn't with his metacam this morning, no - took it straight out of the syringe with no additives. Actually haven't seen him do it since yesterday evening, when I asked here. Although he was doing it a bit right when we picked him up, combined with the face rubbing sometimes associated with 'that tastes bad,' and presumably they had JUST given him his first dose, in addition to having been on isofluorane or whatever for the surgery.

 

[jorats]

That's what I was thinking... mine will do that with the feet and chin, rub it on the floor but it's usually right after getting meds or something they aren't particularly fond of.

 

[lilspaz68]

Ahh the Metacam Face, tongue roll and rubbing of paws to get the nasty sticky stuff off. LOLOL

 

[MomRat]

But like I said, he takes Metacam right out of the syringe like its a treat, just like our Gregory does his benadryl. Maybe it was the taste of the anesthesia at the vets office, and then the taste of the glue/iodine his first night home?

 

[lilspaz68]

But like I said, he takes Metacam right out of the syringe like its a treat, just like our Gregory does his benadryl. Maybe it was the taste of the anesthesia at the vets office, and then the taste of the glue/iodine his first night home?

Its very sticky though...the rubbing is normal after metacam...I find they do the paw shake with sticky ol' zithromax even when they slurp it from the syringe. Its the only way they have to clean off their paws if they get it on there...once they have figured out how to just drink it from the syringe without mess you won't see the behavior again.