Effects of pain on the facial expressions of goat kids

ABSTRACTPain assessment is essential in laboratory and farm animals. Grimace scales have been used for this purpose since 2010. The aim of the present study was to investigate how pain (due to disease presence) affects the main facial expressions of goat kids. For this purpose, 60 goat kids aged 1 to 20 days were included in the study. An experienced veterinarian graded the animals’ pain based on his experience (pain 0, 1, and 2), and two photographs (frontal and lateral) were taken. The following measurements were recorded: Height and width of the palpebral fissure, mouth angle, angles of the nose in profile and front. Pain level affected the height (0.83 and 1.29 cm, pain level 0 and 2 respectively, p