Use of validated objective methods of locomotion characteristics and weight distribution for evaluating the efficacy of ketoprofen for alleviating pain in cows with limb pathologies

Abstract

In veterinary practice pain alleviation plays a part in managing lameness. The aim of this randomized and placebo-controlled clinical study was to evaluate the effect of a single administration of ketoprofen on locomotion characteristics and weight distribution in cattle with foot (located up to and including the fetlock; n = 31 ) and (proximal to the fetlock; n = 10 ) pathologies. Cattle were randomly allocated to either the ketoprofen (group K; intravenous 3 mg/kg of body weight; n = 21) or an equivalent volume of isotonic sterile saline solution (group P; n = 20). Two accelerometers (400 Hz; kinematic outcome = stance phase duration; kinetic outcome = foot load and toe-off), a 4-scale weighing platform (weight distribution and SD of the weight) and a subjective locomotion score were measured before (baseline) and after 1 h and 18 h of treatment. All variables were expressed as differences across contralateral limbs, and the measurements at 1 h and 18 h were compared to the baseline. A repeated measures ANOVA was used to determine the differences between groups K and P. A logistic regression model with a binary outcome (0 = no improvement and 1 = improvement of the differences across the contralateral limbs over time) was calculated. Mean (± SD) of locomotion scores at baseline were not significantly different ( P = 0.102) in group K (3.10 ± 0.80) as compared to group P (3.48 ± 0.64). Cattle of group K showed significantly lower differences across contralateral limbs at 1 h as compared to group P for the relative stance phase and the weight distribution. Only the treatment (P versus K) remained a significant factor in the model for relative stance phase (odds ratio (OR) = 6.5; 95% CI = 1.38–30.68) and weight distribution (OR = 6.36; 95% CI = 1.30–31.07). The effects of ketoprofen were evident in improving the differences across contralateral limbs—both for stance phase during walking and weight bearing during standing—after 1 h but not after 18 h of administration.

Short communication: Claw block application improves locomotion and weight-bearing characteristics in cattle with foot diseases

“…The prevalence of lameness in cattle has been reported to be 31.6% in the United Kingdom (Griffiths et al, 2018), 31% in China (Chapinal et al, 2014, 17.2 to 30.5% in the United States (Salfer et al, 2018), 21% in Finland (Sarjokari et al, 2013), 15 to 21% in Canada (Jewell et al, 2019), 16% in Brazil (Moreira et al, 2018), 14.8% in Switzerland (Becker et al, 2014), and 8.1% in New Zealand (Fabian et al, 2014). Options for treatment and pain management in cattle affected by foot diseases include claw-trimming (Shearer and van Amstel, 2001), analgesia with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID; Whay et al, 2005;Wagner et al, 2017;Alsaaod et al, 2019), and applying a block to the sound partner claw of the affected limb (Toussaint Raven, 1989;Pyman, 1997). To eliminate the underlying cause of pain, corrective claw-trimming is often performed, in combination with surgical debridement (Laven et al, 2008;Thomas et al, 2015).…”

“…We used 2 sizes of claw blocks (according to the size of the respective claws) with a difference of 0.4 cm in height, which could have influenced locomotion characteristics in the respective animals and would provide an interesting question for further research. Analgesic medication is a useful tool for treating lameness in cattle, and a previous study determined the short-term effect of ketoprofen for improving differences across limbs when walking and standing (Alsaaod et al, 2019). Furthermore, in cows with claw horn lesions, the combination of NSAID with therapeutic claw-trimming and a claw block led to a significantly higher proportion of cows recovering from lameness than treatment with foot-trimming alone, or foot-trimming combined with either a claw block or NSAID administration (Thomas et al, 2015).…”

A Review: Development of Computer Vision-Based Lameness Detection for Dairy Cows and Discussion of the Practical Applications

“…Lameness leads to behavioral changes in dairy cows when walking [ 25 ], as the animals reduce their speed, change their pace, arch their backs and bow their heads [ 26 , 27 , 28 ]. These behavioral changes are undertaken to compensate for pain and form important aspects of lameness detection [ 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 ]. The conventional method for lameness detection in dairy cows has been largely based on farmer observations [ 15 , 33 , 34 ].…”

Invited review: Cattle lameness detection with accelerometers

“…The debilitating effects, associated pain, and endemic prevalence make lameness a major welfare issue on dairy farms (Dolecheck and Bewley, 2018;Alsaaod et al, 2019c). Lameness, or abnormal gait, is a response to pain caused by a range of pathologies (O'Callaghan, 2002;Van Nuffel et al, 2015b;Alsaaod et al, 2019b). Lameness management consists of both prevention and treatment.…”