Postoperative analgesic efficacy of meloxicam in lame dairy cows undergoing resection of the distal interphalangeal joint

Abstract

The objective was to evaluate the analgesic efficacy of pre- and postoperative administration of meloxicam on the postsurgical convalescence period of lame dairy cows undergoing resection of the coffin joint. In a blinded, placebo-controlled, explorative clinical trial, 19 lame German Holstein-Friesian cows weighing 536 ± 98 kg (mean ± SD) and aged 5.7 ± 2.8 yr were included. All cows suffered from unilateral lameness due to septic arthritis of the coffin joint. Lame cows were randomly allocated to either the meloxicam group (n=9) or the control group (n=10) and received an intravenous injection of meloxicam (0.5mg/kg of BW) or an equal volume of saline immediately before surgery (d 0) and once daily from d 1 to 4. All cows received a retrograde intravenous local anesthesia (20 mL of procaine 2%) before the surgical intervention. Heart rate, respiratory rate, body temperature, plasma concentrations of cortisol, as well as production parameters (milk yield and feed intake) were evaluated from d 0 to 7. The gait of the animals was assessed daily by lameness scores and by monitoring the cows' activity by means of pedometers attached to both hind legs. Possible adverse effects on abomasal mucosal integrity were monitored by fecal occult blood tests and blood cell counts from d 0 to 7 and on d 14. Under meloxicam treatment plasma cortisol levels, lameness scores, and body temperature were significantly reduced compared with controls. While being treated with meloxicam, the time cows were standing per day was significantly longer compared with controls. In the healthy limb significantly more steps were registered in meloxicam-treated cows than in controls. Feed intake and milk yield were not significantly affected by meloxicam. No group differences were found in number of positive tests for fecal occult blood or blood cell counts. In conclusion, repeated meloxicam application demonstrated effective analgesia in the postsurgical period after resection of septically infected coffin joints in dairy cows without indications of evoking adverse effects on abomasal integrity.

Impact of oral meloxicam administered alone or in combination with gabapentin on experimentally induced lameness in beef calves1

“…It was previously reported that calves treated with 1 mg/kg flunixin at the time of lameness induction with amphotericin B were more active than untreated controls (Schulz et al, 2011). In a recent study it was reported that cows that received 0.5 mg/ kg MEL IV once daily for 4 d following resection of the distal interphalangeal joint took more steps per hour than control cattle (Offinger et al, 2013). The results of the present study support this observation.…”

“…Recently it was reported that plasma cortisol concentrations and lameness scores were significantly reduced in cows that received 0.5 mg/kg MEL IV once daily for 4 d following resection of the distal interphalangeal joint (Offinger et al, 2013). This finding contradicts the results of the present study that found no association between MEL administration and a reduction in cortisol concentrations in calves after induction of lameness.…”

Short communication: Pilot study on hormonal, metabolic, and behavioral stress response to treatment of claw horn lesions in acutely lame dairy cows

“…Generally, professionals agree that major surgeries such as amputation or resection of the distal interphalangeal joint in case of advanced stages of claw horn lesions demand local anesthesia and administration of analgesics to control postoperative pain (Desrochers and St Jean, 1996;Heppelmann et al, 2009;Becker et al, 2013;Offinger et al, 2013). However, assuming that in most instances lame cows are treated by professional claw trimmers or stockmen, therapeutic claw trimming in cows with nonadvanced claw horn lesions is normally done under restraint without any sedation, anesthesia, or analgesia Whay et al, 2005;Becker et al, 2014).…”

Analysis of behavioral changes in dairy cows associated with claw horn lesions

“…Once every 4 wk, 4 cows [1 nonlame cow (control = group C) and 3 lame cows (lame = group L)] were selected and moved to the lame cow pen. Criteria for inclusion in group C were that cows were in second lactation, clinically healthy and not lame [(locomotion score ≤1, according to Offinger et al (2013)]. The criteria for inclusion in group L were that cows were in second or later lactation, clinically healthy except for the presence of lameness [locomotion score >1, according to Offinger et al (2013)] and had a claw horn lesion of one hind claw.…”