Animals eaten alive by hyenas suffer. Most animals do not lose consciousness due to pain when being preyed on. Instead, they maintain consciousness driven by the survival instinct (stimulating the body to secrete corresponding hormones) and watch themselves being eaten bit by bit until they take their last breath.

In this process, animals will experience great pain and fear. For example, when a hyena preys on a bison, it will directly bite the opponent's anus, then bite open the belly and eat the internal organs. The prey will feel itself being disemboweled while it is still alive.