Assessing Pain, Improving Welfare: Insights from Dr Beatriz Monteiro

Assessing Pain, Improving Welfare: Insights from Dr Beatriz Monteiro

Author: maryvy February 27, 2026 Duration: 55:15

In this episode we are joined by Dr Beatriz Monteiro, to discuss in more depth the impact of pain on animal welfare. We consider the differences between acute and chronic pain, how pain impacts on all aspects of animal welfare, the use of validated pain scales such as the Feline Grimace Scale and the importance of evidence based medicine.

We talk a lot about the WSAVA and their resources on pain management, and you can find the links to these at the end of these notes.

We hope you will join The Animal Welfare Conversation.

Biography - Dr. Beatriz Monteiro DVM, PhD, PgDip, ISFMAdvCertFB, Diplomate ACAW

Dr. Monteiro received her veterinary degree from the Unesp-Botucatu followed by two internships at the University of Guelph. She has a PhD in chronic pain from the University of Montreal (UdeM), a Postgraduate Diploma in International Animal Welfare, Ethics and Law from the University of Edinburgh, and an Advanced Certificate in Feline Behaviour from the International Society of Feline Medicine. She is board-certified by the American College of Animal Welfare (ACAW).

Dr. Monteiro has acted as the Chair of the World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) Pain Committee and as a board member of the International Veterinary Academy of Pain (IVAPM) and World Animal Protection Canada. While at UdeM, she was involved in numerous studies related to the Feline Grimace Scale. She has authored over 80 peer-reviewed publications, 8 book chapters and has lectured in numerous international conferences. Dr. Monteiro supports the use of science for guiding societal progress while promoting the concepts of One Welfare to improve the lives of animals and people while caring for the planet we all share.

 

Links and further information

2022 WSAVA Global Pain Management Guidelines: 2022 WSAVA guidelines for the recognition, assessment and treatment of pain - Monteiro - 2023 - Journal of Small Animal Practice - Wiley Online Library

 

2022 AAHA Pain Management Guidelines: 2022 AAHA Pain Management Guidelines for Dogs and Cats* | Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association

 

WSAVA Certificate in Pain Management: WSAVA Certificate in Pain Management - WSAVA


What does it truly mean to care for an animal, whether it's a beloved pet at home or a species on the brink in the wild? Animal Welfare Conversations digs into that question through candid, often surprising discussions with the people on the front lines. Hosted by maryvy, each episode brings you directly into dialogue with veterinary surgeons and nurses making critical medical decisions, conservationists designing field interventions, and animal owners navigating daily ethical choices. The scope is deliberately broad, covering pets, domestic animals, farm residents, zoo inhabitants, and wildlife, because the principles of compassionate care connect them all. You'll hear concrete stories about decision-making and the realities of providing a good life, not just abstract theory. This is a podcast built on curiosity and a willingness to re-examine what we think we know, challenging assumptions about standard practices and long-held beliefs in the pursuit of tangible improvement. It’s for anyone-families, science enthusiasts, or nature lovers-who believes animal welfare is a complex, evolving conversation worth having. Tune in for perspectives that are both deeply personal and rigorously practical, reminding us of our shared responsibility toward the creatures in our care.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 41

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