Do “Prey Species” Hide Their Pain? Implications for Ethical Care and Use of Laboratory Animals

What is it about?

Do prey animals hide their pain from humans who want to care for them? While some people write that mice or rabbits are difficult to diagnose because they mask pain from human observers whom they perceive as potential predators, the reality is that all animal species fear humans, predator and prey alike. The striking exception is the domestic dog, a predator that is sometimes also prey but the reason is not so related to hunters and hunting but to the fact that humans and dogs frequently form trusting relationships, and that humans invest the time and energy to diagnose a dog in need. I propose that if humans invested sufficient effort in their work with other species, we could improve pain recommendation and improve the responsible use of animals in laboratories

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