Do bulls feel pain? - Various studies indicate that yes

By briefly observing a celebration in which they are used bulls or heifers we can observe that the animal is not demonstrating its habitual behavior, it is altered, scared, whether or not it seeks an escape route, it is not calm.In its body a series of processes are being carried out that warn of a potential damage.

Any new situation, even if it is not dangerous, can cause stress to an animal that has never experienced that specific situation, so simply by riding a transport truck to a bull, either in the direction of the slaughterhouse, the square or the street, it provokes a response of stress and fear.Bulls suffer in confinements and not only because of the injuries they may suffer.

In this article of Animals and Pets Online we will analyze if the bulls feel pain and how they are able to bear it during the fight.

What is the pain?

The International Association for the Study of Pain defines pain as "an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with actual or potential tissue damage, or that is described in terms of such damage."

The pain that animals experience is unique in each individual, that is, it is subjective and not only because we each have a different pain threshold, but because pain is not just a physical symptom, it can also be psychological and social, It can affect the natural behavior of animals.

The biological meaning of pain is the prevalence of the individual.The painful sensations activanareas of the brain that can result in attack, flight or avoidance of stimulation caused by the pain.

Non-human animals do not have verbal communication, therefore, diagnosing how much they are suffering can be complicated, but they have the same or very similar neuronal patterns that perceive pain, identifiable neurotransmitters os and receptors similar to that of the human species.

Types of pain

There are several ways to classify pain according to different scientists, but almost all agree on these types:

Acute pain and chronic pain: A pain is considered acute if it lasts less than six months and appears almost instantaneously after tissue damage.The nerve impulse travels to the central nervous system through high-speed neurons.It is an immediate response to the activation of the nociceptive system (system responsible for perceiving pain).Chronic pain lasts longer than six months, takes about a second to appear after tissue damage and increases slowly.It is usually related to chronic pathological processes.Rapid pain and slow pain: it depends on the fiber (type of neuron) that drives the painful impulse, there are fast and slow ways.The rapid pain is driven by the A fibers and would correspond to the rapid and sharp pain e to prick your finger with a needle.The slow pain travels through the C fibers, it is a more lasting pain and it takes longer to perceive it, for example a blow to the arm, we are sorry, but the deep pain appears seconds later , it is not as immediate as pricking.Somatic pain and visceral pain: the first is characterized by pain well located in the damaged area and is not usually accompanied by other reactions such as vomiting or nausea.This pain appears when the skin is damaged , muscles, joints, ligaments or bones.The second, visceral pain, appears when damage has occurred at the level of internal organs.It is not a pain so localized, but more diffuse, extending beyond the affected organ.Nociceptive pain and neuropathic pain: nociceptive pain is normal pain, which is caused by physiological damage, either somatic or visceral.This type of active pain to the nervous system, formed by peripheral nociceptor nerves, via cen Trains of painful sensation and cerebral cortex.On the other hand, neuropathic or abnormal pain, has the characteristic that it is not common and only appears in some individuals.This pain appears when something is not going well in the nervous system.An example of pain Neuropathic is the pain of the phantom limb, people who have lost a limb and feel pain in that part of their body that no longer exists. Do bulls feel pain? - Various studies indicate that yes

Image: www.stopmaltratoanimal.com

Regulation of stress and pain in bull fighting

The bull used for the fight is a subspecies that has been selected for centuries to show bravery, aggressiveness and strength during bullfighting.That is why, in studies on the suffering of the bull, it is very Difficult to distinguish if the animal's behavior is due to pain or stress .

The conclusions that can be drawn from these studies are, first of all, that the pain suffered by the bull during the fight is a pain of somatic type, for the affected organs are the skin, muscles, joints, ligaments and bones.Also, it is an acute type pain, because it starts the nociceptive nervous system.

In studies on stress, measures of different hormones, such as cortisol, were taken to analyze how much stress you suffer during the fight.It was observed that as soon as you left the arena, the concentrations of these hormones were very high, but that decreased, until you reach the rapier, when you are stuck a.

This demonstrates two things: that the bull goes out to the arena with very high stress levels but is capable of developing a quick response to adapt.

The bull fighting and adaptation to pain

So why do they say bulls don't feel pain? As we said, the bull has been selected by the human being for centuries, "forgiving" life only to those who presented greater bravery or combativeness.Those animals that, despite the wounds, continue fighting, have a greater adaptation to pain.

This does not mean that bulls do not suffer or do not feel pain, only that they are more adapted to withstand suffering.All the ways responsible for perceiving pain are activated, hormonal levels rise before the stress is that the bull, due to its anthropic selection, has developed a strong adaptation.In addition, large concentrations of opiates have been detected in the blood, which demonstrates a strong analgesic process.

Death has not It is usually a pleasant process, most animals will die suffering , since they do not have the medical advances that we have a part of the human species.The progressive disconnection of the organs results in a slow pain and deep , so that, as a bull dies in the square, it is also not pleasant, much less if it dies due to the multitude of the infringed wounds.

Maybe you are interested in reading the arguments against the bullfighting.

Image: http://ama-plasencia.blogspot.com/

If you want to read more articles similar to Do bulls feel pain? , we recommend that you enter our section of Curiosities of the animal world.

Bibliography

Illera, JC, Gil, F.,&Silvan, G.2007.Neuroendocrine regulation of stress and pain in the bull of lidia ( Bos taurus L ): preliminary study/stress and pain neuroendocrine regulation in bullfighting ( Bos taurus L .) : preliminary study.Complutense Journal of Veterinary Sciences, 1 (2), 1.
Mason, P.(1999).Central mechanisms of pain modulation.Current opinion in neurobiology, 9 (4), 436-441.
Rainville, P.(2002).Brain mechanisms of pain affect and pain modulation.Current opinion in neurobiology, 12 (2), 195-204.
Rozas, LAC 2014.Opioid hormone concentrations and their relationship with the response to pain in the bull fighting (Doctoral dissertation, Complute University nse from Madrid).

Comments

Brushes for long-haired cats

We must pay special attention to our cat's hair if it is long to avoid possible tangles and hairballs.For this reason and in case you have wondered, what is the best brush for long-haired cats? Animals and Pets Online makes a collection of brushes for long-haired cats , so you can go to your usual store properly informed. Read on to know why it is important to take care of your hair, what types of brushes we find in the market and what is the proper way to carry out brushing your mantle. Why it is important to brush our long-haired cat We all know that cats that have a long coat must be brushed daily to maintain it properly.By brushing we remove dead hair that is difficult to remove regularly by our pet and also greatly reduce the chances of a hairball forming in your stomach. In addition to considerably improving the quality and maintenance of hair, brushing your cat is beneficial to him, which is physically stimulated and for both of you, that you achieve a better comp...

Endangered animals in Spain

Every day there are more endangered species in all countries of the world.The factors for this to happen are several, habitat destruction, excessive hunting and climate change are just some of them. Spain is a territory full of animal diversity, however, in the last decades its populations have declined, leading some species, from mammals to amphibians, to be part of the blacklist of endangered animals.If you are a lover of the animal kingdom and want to know the endangered animals in Spain , continue reading this article from Animals and Pets Online and join the change to prevent them from disappearing. Imperial Iberian Eagle In the case of these majestic and large birds, by the decade of the 70s, there were only about 50 couples flying through the Iberian Peninsula to reach the north of African territory.Thanks to efforts to conserve imperial eagle they have increased to 250 couples, however, their population continues within the list of endangered animals in Spain.It is a je...

American Staffordshire terrier dog: features, photos and videos

The American Staffordshire Terrier, the American Staffordshire Terrier or amstaff, is a dog native to the English region of Staffordshire.Among its ancestors we find the English bulldog, the black and fire terrier, the fox terrier or the white English terrier.Later, this breed became popular in the US, where I just developed a heavier and more muscular variety than the English one. In this Animal Expert breed sheet we will detail with you everything you need to know about the American staffordshire terrier if you are thinking of adopting one: characteristics , character or education are some of the sections that you will find below, essential to consider if you want to have an amstaff in your life. Keep reading and discover everything about the American Staffordshire Terrier.Do not forget to comment and share your photographs at the end of so that other users can meet your partner: Origin of the American Staffordshire terrier The origin and early history of the American staff...

12 invasive species in Argentina and its consequences

According to the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development e , through the National Information System on Invasive Exotic Species, more than 650 invasive species were detected in Argentina .Many of these species were introduced by man, with the intention of obtaining economic benefits, "increase" the local level of sport hunting, or combat pests that were damaging agriculture or livestock. Although the idea of greater diversity in nature may seem interesting, the introduction of exotic animals and plants, Without a previous study of its environmental impact, it usually threatens the survival of the native fauna and flora of the country .In this new article of Animals and Pets Online, we present the main 12 invasive alien species in Argentina and its consequence s for the country's ecosystem. 1.Pinto starling (Sturnus vulgaris) The introduction of these birds is very recent in Argentina, but it already generates great concern for its impact on fauna...

My cat is obsessed with food

Your cat does not eat only everything you put, but also anything do you fall to the ground? Also, does he go crazy every time he gets the scent of a can of food that you've opened and begs for food constantly? The obsession with food is a very common problem for many caregivers of cats that do not know how to avoid or correct it, knowing that it is not a healthy dynamic for the animal.In fact, your cat could have bad behaviors and aggressive attitudes with its surroundings if it is not pleased. In this Animals and Pets Online article we will explain what to do if your cat is obsessed with food , detailing the main causes and some of the treatments that you can apply to solve this problem. Why is your cat obsessed with food? Let's go straight to the source, the food.In this area we could have the first cause.Although your cat is eating all day, is not feeding enough , thing which is very different.Analyze the physical constitution of your cat and see if it is abnorm...

My ferret doesn't want to eat I think

When we talk about pets we always link this concept to dogs and cats, which we consider our Animal friends par excellence, however, the panorama of company animals has changed enormously today, so much so that the ferret has ceased to be a hunting mammal to become an endearing pet. Obviously its organism, its behavior and its needs are very different from those of a dog or a cat, so it requires specific care and when it comes to veterinary controls it is also important to go to a specialized exotic clinic. The feeding of this animal intervenes directly in its state of health and well-being, so in this article we show you the solutions and recommendations to be used when a ferret does not want to eat feed , in order to avoid any complications cion. Ferret Feeding This animal has specific nutritional requirements, therefore, let's see first how the ferret should be fed : It must contain more animal protein than vegetable, constituting between 30 and 38% of its food The ...

Why does my dog lose hair around the eyes?

Have you noticed that your dog loses hair around the eyes? eyes? Does the edge of the eyes red? It could be called demodectic mange , also known as canine demodicosis, a health problem caused by elacaro demodex canis . In this article of Animals and Pets Online we will move on to detail the symptoms that can produce localized demodectic mange, how to diagnose the presence of mites in the eyes of the dog and what will be the treatment to follow. Keep reading and discover why my dog loses hair around the eyes with the mass advice for your case: Symptoms deacaros in the dog's eyes If you wonder why my dog loses hair around the eyes, perhaps it is due to the appearance of localized demodectic mange .This problem caused by poracaros usually affects the dog's face although It can also occur in paws and other areas of the body.It usually affects young, elderly dogs or those with a weak immune system. The symptoms of localized demodectic mange are usually the follow...

Addison's disease in dogs

Addison's disease, technically called hypoadrenocorticism , is a type of rare ailment suffered by young and middle-aged dogs.It is not well known and even some veterinarians have trouble recognizing the symptoms.It is due to the inability of the animal's body to produce certain hormones.Although it is difficult to To diagnose, dogs that receive the correct treatment can lead a normal and healthy life. If your dog is constantly ill and none of the medications work, maybe you are interested in reading this Expert Expert article on the Adisson disease in dogs, causes symptoms and treatment. Canine Addison-Causes of Addison's disease in dogs As we have said, this disease is caused by the inability of the dog's brain to release certain hormones, called adrenocorticotropic (ACTH).These are responsible for maintaining the correct sugar levels, controlling the balance between the sodium and body potassium, to support cardiac function or to control the immune system, am...

When to take my puppy to the vet for the first time?

The puppy's first visit to the veterinarian is a moment very important, in which the health status of the child must be evaluated and the dates for the beginning of the vaccination and deworming calendar must be established, essential to prevent the appearance of any pathology. In this first general review The specialist will carry out a complete exploration and it will be the right time to solve the doubts we may have about the care he requires, his feeding or socialization.Do you want to know when to take the dog to the veterinarian for the first time? What tests should we expect? What do they do? Next, in this Animals and Pets Online article we will show you everything you need to know about the first visit to a puppy's veterinarian , but we will also explain what situations they are considered an e Veterinary mergence or many other questions about puppies.You can't miss it! When to take my puppy to the vet for the first time? Puppy dogs, unlike adults, are mu...

Teach your dog to bark to order

If you no longer know how to prevent your dog from barking, an alternative to controlling their barking consists of putting that behavior in order .The idea behind this strategy is to perfect the inappropriate behavior, so that it only happens when you give the order, however, that can only be achieved in very strict training conditions, rare in everyday life, and in some special cases, so it is unlikely that your dog will stop barking only thanks to this training strategy. However, if you will gain control of the barking because you can ask your dog to stop.Therefore, teaching your dog to bark to order can help you when your dog barks in response to a particular stimulus (for example when the bell rings), if he learned to bark to get things (for example or if it barks for you to give it food) and, in some cases, if it barks for a lot of enthusiasm.p> Get your dog to bark to order Since your dog is a barker, you already know some stimuli or some situations that cause thei...

Animals and Pets Online

Search This Blog