Abstract

From an animal welfare point of view, it is important to know what effect different injuries and diseases have on an animal's feelings as well as its capabilities for a future good life. Any injury or disease inflicted on an animal will to some degree be a tax on the animal's capabilities to optimise its being according to its desires as well as its output from an evolutionary perspective. Many cases of injury and disease lead to sensations of pain. However, a disease where the animal has to use substantial resources, for example, its immune system, to conquer the disease, is probably also linked to negative feedback signals. Thus, the observation of injury and disease can be regarded as an important tool to evaluate the animal's condition from an animal welfare point of view. Preventive measures must be directed towards the causal factors. Systematic monitoring of injuries and symptoms of disease at critical control points is a potent tool for the monitoring of animal welfare as well as for the work to continue to improve the welfare of the animals we keep in our custody

Keywords

injury; disease; health; welfare; prevention; monitoring

Published in

Proceedings of the Global Conference on Animal Welfare: an OIE initiative
2004, pages: 179-184
Publisher: World Organisation for Animal Health

Conference

Global Conference on Animal Welfare: an OIE initiative

Authors' information