Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
How to rate itching severity in dogs using a 0-10 scale
By Strzok, Emily et al.·Published in Veterinary dermatology·2022·University of Minnesota, United States·View original on PubMed →
PetCaseFinder translated the abstract of this peer-reviewed paper into plain English so pet owners can read it. We do not publish original research — every detail traces back to the citation above. How we work →
Original publication title: Validation of the 0-10 verbal numeric scale for assessment of pruritus severity in dogs.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A study involving 251 dogs found that a new 0-10 verbal numeric scale (VNS) can effectively measure itching severity in dogs, similar to the existing pruritus Visual Analog Scale (pVAS). Owners rated their pets' itching using both scales, and results showed that the VNS scores decreased significantly after treatments aimed at reducing itching. While the VNS is valid for assessing itch, it is not interchangeable with the pVAS, and most pet owners preferred the pVAS for its clarity. This means that if your dog is itching, both scales can help track the severity and response to treatment, but your vet may still prefer the pVAS.
People also search for: dog itching treatment · how to measure dog pruritus · best scale for dog itching
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The pruritus Visual Analog Scale (pVAS) is currently the only validated tool for assessing canine pruritus. A verbal numeric scale (VNS) offers an alternative if clients are not present or able to complete the pVAS. HYPOTHESIS/OBJECTIVE: To validate the 0-10 VNS and evaluate its interchangeability with the pVAS. ANIMALS: 251 dogs were included in the study. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Dog owners were asked to assess their pet's pruritus level using the pVAS, the 0-10 VNS and the verbal rating categories (mild, moderate, severe) in one or two subsequent visits. To be valid, VNS must satisfy the following: correlate with pVAS (criterion validity); indicate reduction in itch score after an antipruritic intervention (construct validity); and have scores related to the verbal rating categories that are significantly different (content validity). VNS and pVAS interchangeability and the percentage of clients that preferred the VNS and pVAS also were evaluated. RESULTS: The VNS and pVAS correlation for visits 1 and 2 was good (r = 0.9) and excellent (r = 0.94). The VNS scores were significantly decreased after antipruritic interventions (P < 0.001). The VNS scores associated with the verbal rating scale categories (mild, moderate and severe) were significantly different (P < 0.001). The 95% limits of agreement for the pVAS and VAS were outside the limit of acceptability of ±2 (-2.0, 2.57). Most clients (69%) preferred the pVAS to the VNS. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The VNS is a valid scale to evaluate canine pruritus; however, the VNS and pVAS are not interchangeable.
Find similar cases for your pet
PetCaseFinder finds other peer-reviewed reports of pets with the same symptoms, plus a plain-English summary of what was tried across them.
Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35194863/