1. Reduction in pain response by combined use of local lidocaine anesthesia and systemic ketoprofen in dairy calves dehorned by heat cauterization
- Author
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Duffield, T. F., Heinrich, A., Suzanne Millman, Haan, A., James, S., and Lissemore, K.
- Subjects
Pain, Postoperative ,Time Factors ,Behavior, Animal ,Hydrocortisone ,Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal ,Lidocaine ,Scientific ,Treatment Outcome ,Ketoprofen ,Animals ,Cattle ,Female ,Anesthetics, Local ,Horns - Abstract
This study assessed the efficacy of ketoprofen for mitigating pain following dehorning with an electric cautery iron. Forty Holstein heifer calves, 4 to 8 wk of age, were randomized to receive a lidocaine cornual nerve block and either an injection of ketoprofen (3 mg/kg IM) or physiological saline, 10 min prior to dehorning. Cortisol was measured from serum obtained 10 min prior to dehorning and at 3 and 6 h post-dehorning. Calf behavior was video-recorded between 0 to 2, 3 to 5, and 6 to 8 h post-dehorning, and frequency of ear flicks, head shakes, head rubs, lying, standing, feeding, and grooming were recorded. Finally, 24-h intake of calf starter was recorded. There was no effect of treatment on cortisol (P > 0.1); however, ketoprofen-treated calves displayed less ear-flicks and total head behavior (P < 0.05), and tended to consume more starter (P = 0.09) than control calves. Ketoprofen is effective for mitigating behavioral effects of postsurgical pain following dehorning in 4- to 8-week-old calves.
- Published
- 2010