No abstract

We argue that there is currently an under-reporting of the ways in which pain can be associated with problem behavior, which is seriously limiting the recognition of this welfare problem. A review of the caseloads of 100 recent dog cases of several authors indicates that a conservative estimate of around a third of referred cases involve some form of painful condition, and in some instances, the figure may be nearly 80%. The relationship is often complex but always logical. Musculoskeletal but also painful gastro-intestinal and dermatological conditions are commonly recognized as significant to the animal’s problem behavior. The potential importance of clinical abnormalities such as an unusual gait or unexplained behavioral signs should not be dismissed by clinicians in general practice, even when they are common within a given breed. In general, it is argued that clinicians should err on the side of caution when there is a suspicion that a patient could be in pain by carefully evaluating the patient’s response to trial analgesia, even if a specific physical lesion has not been identified.

No abstract

El presente texto tiene como objetivo discutir los resultados de un estudio previo llevado a cabo sobre los efectos del estado de alarma por la COVID-19 en España sobre las personas, sus perros y sus gatos. Ayuda a comprender el apoyo que la gente obtiene de sus animales, sobre todo en momentos difíciles, y cómo el vínculo con los animales puede sustituir algunos aspectos de las relaciones humanas que podrían verse comprometidos durante una pandemia, como la compañía y el contacto físico. También se valora el efecto del confinamiento en los centros de acogida de animales de compañía. Estos resultados pueden ayudar a desarrollar intervenciones sanitarias que aprovechen el valor como capital social de la convivencia con animales de compañía.