Disease and Five Freedoms

1. Freedom from hunger or thirst
2. Freedom from discomfort
3. Freedom from pain, injury or disease
4. Freedom to express (most) normal behaviour
5. Freedom from fear and distress

• A disease may affect many different aspects of welfare. It may affect all of the Five Freedoms.
• For example, an animal with a chronic skin abscess may not be able to compete with other animals for food and water.
• The abscess may prevent the animal from laying in a comfortable position, and it may not be able to compete with others for a warm laying area.
• The abscess will cause pain.
• Normal behaviour will be affected as the animal will attempt to avoid further injury, and it will be generally dull and inactive.
• Animals that are ill can often be more fearful of other animals as they are more prone to predators.