Pain has a direct and indirect influence on behavioural expression. Pain itself causes changes in physiology, but it is also an indicator that there is something wrong that requires investigation. Chronic pain is maladaptive. If an animal is painful the more obvious functional responses may be avoidant, or confrontational in nature. More subtle behavioural responses to pain may not be initially perceived as problematic but are indicators that the animal could be painful. For example, behavioural inhibition or excessive appeasement behaviour. Chronic pain can alter an individual’s response to environmental stimuli. The magnitude of an individual’s response may seem out of proportion to a given stimulus, or out of context in a given environment. Pain is both a physical and an emotional experience for the individual animal. This presentation will focus on chronic pain, its influence on behaviour – and the collaborative team approach in diagnosis, assessment and treatment that is critical in enhancing the welfare of the individual animal.