Table 2.

Behavioural items recorded after the end of the procedure (Post MI). The score was obtained at multiple evaluations, starting from extubation until 12 h after sternal recumbency.

	Appearance**	Lying and restlessness **	Tremors/ Spasms	Vocalisation	Food interest	Agitation at human approaching *	Response to touch (neck, head, thorax and forelimbs) *
0	Normal appearance	Normal lying	No evidence of tremors/ spasms	No vocalisation or vocalisation related to food/interest in human/mate approach	Normal appetite	Curious, interactive, may vocalise	No response
1	Salivation	Lying guarding one part of the body/moves without external stimulation	Tremors/ spasms in one part of the body	Vocalisation without a purpose/ unmotivated excitation	Reduced appetite, eat special/ tasty food	Moves away when approached	Mild response: the animal looks uncomfortable and worried; retraction of the interested body part can be present
2	//	Move often/ poor wake times	Generalised tremors/ spasms	//	Reduced appetite independently of the food	Biting and aggressive when approached	Severe response: escape reaction
3	//	Continuous pacing in the box		//	No appetite	Stay immobile and disinterested	//

** items not assessed at extubation and sternal recumbency; * items not assessed at extubation.