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

Animal Welfare Conversations
Podcast Episodes
Sneak Preview - Vet Nursing Awareness Month [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 3:10
In this short intro episode, we highlight new episodes for May, otherwise known as Veterinary Nursing Awareness Month. So, we're focussing on the impact of veterinary nursing on animal welfare. In our first 3 episodes we…
Episode 8 - Animal welfare and the CMA report [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 15:26
In this episode we take a break from interviews, and Mary considers the impact of the CMA report on animal welfare. Recent years have seen many changes in veterinary practice, and in particular the corporatisation of the…
Episode 7 - Dr Tanya Stephens FRCVS [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 50:57
This edition of Animal Welfare Conversations focusses on veterinary life in Australia. We’re joined by Dr Tanya Stephens BVSc, MSc, IAWEL, MANZCVS, FRCVS. Tanya is a veterinary practitioner in Australia, who has been abl…
Episode 6 - Joe Bailey -The Humanimal Trust [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:19
In this episode of The Animal Welfare Conversation we are joined by Joe Bailey, CEO of the Humanimal Trust, a charity set up in 2014 by Professor Noel Fitzpatrick to support collaboration between human health professiona…
Episode 5 - Dr Matt Morgan - One Medicine [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:52
In this episode we catch up with Dr Matt Morgan, Consultant in Intensive Care Medicine, adjunct Professor, regular BMJ columnist and author of One Medicine - What animals can teach us and why it matters. We chat about th…
Episode 1 - Amy Lyons - Veterinary Nursing in Australia [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:00
We were delighted to chat with Amy Lyons in our more recent edition of Animal Welfare Conversations. Working as a veterinary nurse in Australia Amy sees a variety of different animals – anything from wombats and kangaroo…
AWC_Introduction [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 5:13
Welcome to Animal Welfare Conversations A podcast for veterinary nurses, vets, vet students, and anyone who just loves working with animals. This podcast is for you if you want to feel part of a larger conversation and c…