Canine Pain Calculator
ASK A VET™ · Clinical assessment tools
Built by Dr Duncan Houston
Talk. Track. Trust.
Short Form Glasgow Composite Measure Pain Scale (CMPS‑SF)
A validated behaviour-based tool for assessing acute pain in dogs. Assess the dog in each category and select the single descriptor that best fits. The tool totals the score live and flags when analgesic intervention is recommended.
Section A — In the kennel
Observe the dog in the kennel. Is the dog…
1. Vocalising?
2. Attention to the wound or painful area?
Section B — Mobility
Put a lead on and walk the dog out of the kennel. When it rises and walks, is it…
Section C — Response to touch
Apply gentle pressure around the wound / painful area (including the abdomen). Does the dog…
Section D — Demeanour
Overall, is the dog…
Section E — Posture & comfort
Is the dog…
Clinical note: Intervention threshold is ≥ 6/24 (or ≥ 5/20 when mobility is not assessed). The score guides analgesic decisions but does not replace clinical judgement — reassess regularly and treat the patient, not just the number.
Feline Grimace Scale
Coming to the next build. This tab will score facial action units for feline acute pain.
Colorado State University Canine Acute Pain Scale
A pictorial 0–4 scale for acute pain in dogs. Unlike Glasgow, this is a single holistic rating: read across all five levels, then select the one that best matches the dog’s psychological/behavioural state, response to palpation and body tension. Assess body tension gently. Scores of 2 and above prompt a reassessment of the analgesic plan.
Clinical note: This is a holistic 0–4 rating, not a summed score. A score of 2 or more should trigger reassessment of analgesia. Body tension is central — assess it gently, and always rescore once the dog is fully awake.