Table 1.
Criteria for the visual assessment score, points are awarded for abnormal animal behavior (best 0 points, worst 29 points)
| Item | Points | Best | Worst |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nest building | (0) Normal | 0 | 2 |
| (1) Use of paper towel | |||
| (2) No use of paper towel | |||
| Teeth grinding | (2) If present | 0 | 2 |
| Vocalization | (2) If present | 0 | 2 |
| Hair coat | (0) Normal | 0 | 6 |
| (2) Not well groomed | |||
| (4) Rough, dirty | |||
| (6) Very rough, dirty | |||
| Eyes | (0) Open, alert | 0 | 4 |
| (2) Squinted | |||
| (4) Closed | |||
| Coordination and posture | (0) Normal | 0 | 6 |
| (1) Lightly hunched | |||
| (2) Walks hunched | |||
| (3) Walks hunched and slowly | |||
| (4) No running | |||
| (5) Hunched, strumbles | |||
| (6) Hunched, no movement | |||
| Overall condition | (0) Normal | 0 | 3 |
| (1) Rough, acts normal | |||
| (2) Rough, depressed | |||
| (3) Very rough, very depressed | |||
| Withering | (0) Skin fold < 1 s | 0 | 4 |
| (2) Skin fold > 1 s | |||
| (4) Skin fold > 2 s | |||
| Total | 0 | 29 |