Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs: Pharmacokinetics and Mitigation of Procedural-Pain in Cattle

Abstract

Common routine management practices in cattle, such as castration and disbudding, are recognized as being painful. In the United States (U.S.), these procedures are frequently performed without pain mitigation and there are currently no drugs federally approved for such use. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as meloxicam, flunixin meglumine and aspirin, are the most commonly used analgesics in U.S. food-animal production systems. However, the body of research investigating the effectiveness of these pharmaceuticals to control pain in cattle at castration and disbudding has not been comprehensively evaluated. Therefore, this review examined existing literature to summarize meloxicam, flunixin and aspirin (1) pharmacokinetics (PK) and (2) administration outcome in regard to pain control during castration and disbudding procedures, in cattle. Following systematic searches and screening, 47 PK and 44 publications were extracted for data and are presented. The sample size contained notable variability and a general deficiency of validated and replicated methodologies for assessing pain in cattle remain substantial challenges within this research area. Future research should prioritize replication of pain assessment methodologies across different experimental conditions to close knowledge gaps identified by the present study and facilitate examination of analgesic efficacy.

The effect of transdermal flunixin meglumine on blood cortisol levels in dairy calves after cautery disbudding with local anesthesia

“…Two and 6 h after disbudding, the plasma cortisol concentrations were affected by treatment for 1-FLU and 2-FLU calves. And a return to baseline plasma cortisol concentrations occurred in 1-FLU and 2-FLU after 2 h. According to Wagner et al (2021) the maximum concentration of transdermal flunixin meglumine occurred 1.66 to 2.14 h (Tmax-concentration) after administration. This timing might have influenced the return of plasma cortisol concentrations to baseline levels in 1-FLU and 2-FLU 2 h after disbudding in our study.…”

“…Because of the half-life of 6.42 to 13.2 h (Wagner et al, 2021), we administered a second dose at 6 h postdisbudding to test the hypothesis that the analgesic effect of flunixin meglumine could be extended. Inflammation induced prostaglandin E 2 production peaks 24 h as well as 48 h postdisbudding (Allen et al, 2013;Stock et al, 2015).…”

“…Calves were randomly assigned to one of 3 groups: (1) control group (CON, n = 27), (2) 1-flunixin group (1-FLU, n = 26) with a single administration of transdermal flunixin meglumine at disbudding, and (3) 2-flunixin group (2-FLU, n = 24) with 2 administrations of transdermal flunixin meglumine, the first treatment at disbudding and the second 6 h afterward. We administered a second dose at 6 h after disbudding to test the hypothesis that the analgesic effect of flunixin meglumine could be extended due to the half-life of 6.42 h to 13.2 h (Wagner et al, 2021). The CON group received a placebo treatment, a mixture of 80% lubricant (Gleitcreme Bengen, WDT e.G.)…”

Applied Animal Ethics in Industrial Food Animal Production: Exploring the Role of the Veterinarian

“…Boredom, frustration, exercise restriction, and barren environments may be experienced by animals living in these systems for much of their lives, contributing to poor welfare [11]. In addition, confined space may lead to aggression and other problems that necessitate the surgical alteration of animals, for example, the tail docking of piglets and the castration of most male hoofstock, often without the provision of analgesia or anesthesia [12][13][14][15]. Other public health issues may be associated with IFAP, such as increased disease when animals are kept in crowded conditions, with a resultant need for routine antimicrobial use, and the potential for antimicrobial resistance to develop.…”

The effect of flunixin meglumine on eating and rumination variables in cows after omentopexy for correction of left displaced abomasum

“…6 A recent review of the use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for pain control during castration and dehorning of calves reports doses of flunixin meglumine ranging from 1.1 to 3.3 mg/kg. 13 The goal of the present study was to examine eating and rumination variables in 60 cows undergoing omentopexy for correction of LDA in relation to the postoperative administration of flunixin meglumine (FM) at two different doses; the methodology and results have been described in detail. 11 Our hypothesis was that the administration of flunixin meglumine to cows after surgical correction of left displaced abomasum has a positive effect on eating and rumination behaviours.…”