Development and validation of an owner‐assessed Visual Analog Scale for feline pruritus severity scoring (VAScat)

Background Assessment of the severity of pruritus is difficult in cats, because they manifest discomfort by increased licking, increased scratching or both. Hypothesis/Objectives Our objective was to develop and validate a feline‐specific pruritus scale (VAScat). Methods The scale was designed as a...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Veterinary dermatology 2022-10, Vol.33 (5), p.407-413
Main Authors: Colombo, Silvia, Sartori, Roberta, Schievano, Carlo, Borio, Stefano
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Pruritus
Skin diseases
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Summary:Background Assessment of the severity of pruritus is difficult in cats, because they manifest discomfort by increased licking, increased scratching or both. Hypothesis/Objectives Our objective was to develop and validate a feline‐specific pruritus scale (VAScat). Methods The scale was designed as a double Visual Analog Scale (VAS), one VAS for licking and one for scratching, with severity and behavioural descriptors. The highest score (VAS‐max) on either VAS was taken as the pruritus score for each cat. Owners of 153 cats with skin diseases and of 108 healthy cats scored their pet's pruritus using the VAScat. Ninety‐six of 153 cats with skin diseases also were re‐evaluated after four to eight weeks of treatment. Results Pearson's correlation value between VAS‐licking and VAS‐scratching scores was r = 0.26 (p 
ISSN:0959-4493
1365-3164
DOI:10.1111/vde.13103