Saliva, containing a mix of enzymes, hormones, and electrolytes, reflects the body’s physiological state and offers a non-invasive medium for diagnostic testing. In this study, researchers evaluated salivary alpha-amylase and cortisol levels in 35 dogs undergoing orthopedic and soft tissue surgeries to determine their relationship with pain intensity.
Using the short form of the Glasgow Composite Measure Pain Scale (CMPS-SF), the team measured dogs’ pain scores before and after surgery, alongside heart rate, blood pressure, and both salivary and serum biomarker levels. Following surgical intervention, dogs showed significant decreases in pain scores (0.4-fold, p < 0.001) and serum cortisol levels (0.73-fold, p < 0.01).
When grouped by pre-operative pain severity, dogs in the high-pain category experienced notable reductions in salivary alpha-amylase, serum alpha-amylase, and serum cortisol after surgery. Across both high- and low-pain groups, there was a clear positive correlation between salivary alpha-amylase levels and CMPS-SF scores, indicating that higher enzyme activity aligned with greater reported pain.
The findings support salivary alpha-amylase as a practical, non-invasive biomarker for assessing pain-related stress in dogs, potentially enhancing post-operative monitoring and improving pain management protocols in veterinary practice.
Source: Kang, E.-H., Seol-Park, Oh, Y.-I., & Seo, K.-W., BMC Veterinary Research, January 13, 2022.
