Abstract

Sensing tissue damage is central to animals' ability to survive, with pain being thought to allow a longer-lasting avoidance of future damage. Studying pain in non-human, and particularly in non-mammalian animals requires a careful consideration of what pain is for them, how to study it ethically, and what we can do to intervene in conditions that are associated with pain. I give two examples of potentially painful conditions - keel bone fracture in laying hens (hard tissue damage), and mastitis in cows (soft tissue disruption), and use them to consider why we must, and how we can, study animal pain. 

Short Bio

Catherine Williams is a vet, AIAS Associate fellow, and Tenure Track Assistant Professor at the Department of Animal and Veterinary Sciences. Her work addresses the interplay of how animals work (physiology) and veterinary anaesthesia and pain relief across diverse animal groups (fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals). Currently, she has projects focusing on bone and udder sensation in laying hens and dairy cows respectively.

What is an AIAS Seminar?

The AIAS Seminar Series is a session of seminars held by the AIAS fellows, AIAS Visiting or Tandem Fellows or by other speakers proposed by the fellows. In each seminar, a fellow will present and discuss her/his current research and work-in-progress to an interdisciplinary audience for 30 minutes, closing off with 30 minutes for questions, comments and discussion.

All seminars are in-person and held in English. To attend online, please contact Cecilie Horshauge at cecilie@aias.au.dk by 9:00am on the day of the seminar as the latest to request a link.