Evaluating treatments with topical anaesthetic and buccal meloxicam for pain and inflammation caused by amputation dehorning of calves

Abstract

To assess the effects of a topical anaesthetic (TA) and buccal meloxicam (BM) on behaviour, maximum wound temperature and wound morphology following amputation dehorning of beef calves, 50 unweaned Hereford calves were randomly allocated to: (1) sham dehorning / control (CON, n = 14); (2) amputation dehorning (D, n = 12); (3) amputation dehorning with pre-operative buccal meloxicam (DBM, n = 12); and (4) amputation dehorning with post-operative topical anaesthetic (DTA, n = 12). Videos of the calves were captured for 3 h following treatment. Each calf was later observed for 5 min every hour and the frequency and duration of specific behaviours displayed during these focal periods was recorded. Infrared and digital photographs of dehorning wounds were collected from all dehorned calves on days 1, 3 and 7 following treatment. Infrared photographs were used to identify the maximum temperature within the wound area. Digital photographs were used to score wounds based on visual signs of inflammation and healing, using a numerical rating scale of 1 to 3, with morphological aspects of inflammation increasing and morphological aspects of healing decreasing with progressive scores. CON calves displayed fewer head shakes than all dehorned calves at 2 and 3 h following treatment (P = 0.025). CON and DTA calves displayed less head turns than DBM calves at 2 h following treatment (P = 0.036). CON calves displayed fewer combined point behaviours than all dehorned calves at 2 h following treatment (P = 0.037). All dehorning wounds had a greater maximum temperature on days 3 and 7 compared to day 1 (P = 0.003). All wound morphology scores decreased from day 1 to day 3 and wound morphology scores of DBM and DTA calves increased from day 3 to day 7 (P = 0.03). Although flystrike may have confounded these observations, no clear effects of TA or BM on behaviour, maximum wound temperature or wound morphology following dehorning of calves were observed. Further research is required to evaluate the analgesic efficacy of these products for amputation dehorning of calves.

Innovative pain management solutions in animals may provide improved wound pain reduction during debridement in humans: An opinion informed by veterinary literature

“…Widespread adoption by farmers of the addition of an oral NSAID to the procedure currently remains uncertain. However, the use of topical anaesthetic formulation accompanied by intramuscular injections of NSAIDs, administered by beef farmers under veterinary advice, does appear to be increasing in Australia, particularly with recent research confirming both efficacy and productivity improvements with this multimodal approach for use in beef cattle husbandry procedures …”

Effects of a topically applied anaesthetic on the behaviour, pain sensitivity and weight gain of dairy calves following thermocautery disbudding with a local anaesthetic

“…Very little consistent effect of treatment was found on most of the measured behaviours or weight gain over the first 6 days after castration and dehorning (Van der Saag et al 2018b). In a similar study using 6-8 month-old Hereford calves undergoing amputation dehorning alone, there was no clear effect of topical anaesthetic or buccal meloxicam on behaviour, maximum wound temperature or wound morphology after dehorning (Van der Saag et al 2018a). These studies have limited relevance outside Australia and similar extensive range farming systems, as they did not investigate the use of topical anaesthetic alongside local anaesthesia.…”

Effect of Meloxicam on Behavior, Physiology and Pain Sensitivity in Holstein Calves Following Dehorning

“…Recent research has found that meloxicam-treated, dehorned, 6-to 12-week-old Holstein calves displayed less ear icking for 44 hr and head shaking for 9 hr after dehorning than calves not treated with meloxicam 32 ; moreover, meloxicam signi cantly increased the time spent eating following castration and/or dehorning in 3-month-old Holstein calves 29 . In another study, meloxicam signi cantly reduced the head turning frequency and increased weight gain following castration and dehorning in 6-to 8-month-old beef calves 37 , although clear observations of the effects of meloxicam on other behaviors displayed by 6-to 8-mo-old dehorned beef calves have not been reported 9 . Overall, the changes in behavior suggested that meloxicam was effective in reducing post-surgical pain and distress associated with calf dehorning.…”