Which validated pain assessment tool is suitable for a nonverbal senior dog with osteoarthritis?

• A. Pain scales designed for cats.
• B. A simple owner questionnaire without a validated scale.
• C. Validated canine pain scores such as the Glasgow CMPS-SF or the Canine Brief Pain Inventory, used with caregiver input.
• D. A general mood assessment without standardized scoring.

Answer: (C)

For nonverbal senior dogs with osteoarthritis, you need a reliable, standardized way to measure pain that is specific to dogs and includes real-world observations from the caregiver. Validated canine pain scales are designed for exactly this purpose: they provide a numeric score that reflects pain intensity and its impact on function, and they’re tested for reliability and sensitivity to change.

Two good examples are the Glasgow Composite Measure Pain Scale–Short Form and the Canine Brief Pain Inventory. The CMPS-SF relies on observable behaviors and responses to palpation to yield a score, giving a clinician a structured sense of pain level. The CBPI is completed by the caregiver and assesses pain severity, how pain interferes with daily activities, and overall quality of life, capturing changes the dog’s owner is best positioned to notice. Using these canine-specific, validated tools with caregiver input offers a more accurate and trackable assessment than cat scales, non-validated questionnaires, or general mood checks, which lack species relevance, reliability, and standardized scoring.