Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
New dog pain scale helps spot lower back pain in dogs
By Medina-Serra, Roger et al.·Published in Frontiers in veterinary science·2025·Anaesthesia and Pain Management, United Kingdom·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Initial validation of the LSPain scale: a behaviour-based clinical tool for canine lumbosacral pain.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of dogs suspected of having lumbosacral pain (pain in the lower back area) was evaluated using a new tool called the LSPain Scale, which measures pain based on their behavior. This scale helps veterinarians assess how much pain a dog is in, with scores ranging from 0 (no pain) to 3 (severe pain). The study showed that this scale is reliable and effective for monitoring pain levels in dogs. It can help vets provide better care by tracking changes in pain over time and adjusting treatments as needed.
People also search for: dog back pain symptoms · lumbosacral pain in dogs · how to assess dog pain · dog pain management tools
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: This study aimed to validate the LSPain Scale, a novel 4-point ordinal instrument for assessing lumbosacral pain in dogs based on behavioural responses to palpation of the lumbosacral region. METHODS: A preliminary analysis was conducted using clinical data to inform sample size estimation and to explore the scale's convergent validity and responsiveness. Subsequently, a prospective validation was performed using 50 anonymised clinical videos retrospectively collected from client-owned dogs evaluated for suspected lumbosacral pain. Dogs represented a broad clinical spectrum and were graded using the LSPain Scale, where scores range from 0 (no pain) to 3 (severe pain). Trained observers, including pain specialists and general practitioners, independently scored the videos while blinded to clinical data. RESULTS: Psychometric evaluation demonstrated strong convergent and discriminant validity, responsiveness to treatment, inter- and intra-rater reliability, and usability across experience levels. DISCUSSION: The findings support the LSPain Scale as a valid and reliable clinician-based tool for standardised assessment and monitoring of lumbosacral pain in dogs.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41169681/