Paws in Pain
App User Instructions
Dear App User,
Thank you for using the PetsDataLab app that allows multi-site and multi-user data collection in research. Our goal is to develop a dog pain database by collecting data from dogs in different pain states.
By using the app, you consent to the use of the uploaded data for our research. All data is anonymous. Upon submission, you will also receive a Glasgow Composite Pain Scale score for immediate evaluation of the dogs’ pain state.
Data collection: Takes about 10 minutes → answer up to 16 questions + take pictures and videos.
How often? Depends on patient’s category, ideally:
EMERGENCY
Once before initial treatment, then every 2 hours.
SURGERY
Once pre- and multiple times post-surgery (ideally 0-2h, 2-4h, 6-12h, >12h after extubation) and once daily after.
CONSULTATION
During each consultation for that specific problem.
HOSPITALISED
Once daily.
Instructions
E-Mail: Enter your email. If the email address has already been used, choose between “Fill New Research Form” or “Continue with existing filled forms” and then choose the corresponding trail. This allows you to change your answers after submitting them.
Here are some notes to help you navigate through the pages:
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For not painful patients undergoing surgery, select “No Pain” in these questions
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Video recording:
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Use a tripod if possible to avoid too much movement.
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Video 1 (no interaction): 1 minute, no interaction with the dog, focus on filming the face and when possible include the whole body.
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Video 2 (interaction): Look at the dog, say the name, wait for 5 seconds. Approach the dog, start gently palpating the neck, front legs, thorax, abdomen, hind legs, and then the painful area. For elective surgery cases, also palpate the operative site before surgery, even if not painful.
Example videos of the palpation procedure
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Palpation of painful area: apply gentle pressure 5 cm around the site. Use the dog's reaction to answer the following question:
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Avoid learning over or stroking the dog from above.
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Stop/omit filming if the dog is aggressive, very stressed, highly anxious or in severe pain when palpating.
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If the dog needs support to walk or can't be stressed (e.g., directly after airway surgeries), skip this part:
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If the dog is aggressive, and you skipped the palpation of the wound / painful area during the interaction, skip the question about it:
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Take a picture of the patient’s protocol (IPS Blatt).