The impact of transdermal flunixin meglumine on biomarkers of pain in calves when administered at the time of surgical castration without local anesthesia

Kleinhenz, Michael D.; Engen, N. K. Van; Smith, Joe S.; Gorden, Patrick J.; Ji, Ju; Wang, C; Perkins, S. C. B.

doi:10.1016/j.livsci.2018.03.016

Cited by 38 publications

(52 citation statements)

References 16 publications

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“…Standard practices of husbandry and veterinary care, as approved by the Iowa State University Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC Protocol #: 6-15-8039-B and 5-15-8016-B) were used in recently published studies [32, 33]. In those studies, calves were group housed with indoor/outdoor access.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fecal microbiota changes associated with dehorning and castration stress primarily affects light-weight dairy calves

et al. 2019

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Gastrointestinal tract (GIT) microbiota and stress can impact animal health. Studies have shown that perturbations in the GIT microbiota can influence host health and productivity by affecting physiological homeostasis, metabolism, hematopoiesis and inflammation. The present study aimed to evaluate possible effects of dehorning and castration stress on the GIT microbiota of dairy calves. Dehorning and castration are routinely performed on over 90% of dairy farms, and analgesics like flunixin meglumine (FLU) are given at the time of these procedures to reduce pain. We analyzed fecal microbiota of 24 weaned male dairy calves at two different stages in their life (at 10 weeks for dehorning and 36 weeks age for castration) to determine any GIT microbiota changes due to these stressful procedures and the FLU treatment. Dehorning was performed using an electrocautery dehorner applied to the horn for 10 seconds, and surgical castration was used as the castration method. Our analysis showed that the Shannon diversity index was significantly higher in animals that were not dehorned compared to dehorned animals. Castration stress also resulted in a significant decrease in Shannon diversity index, which was more pronounced in lower weight calves. Body weight and stress had significant effects on the taxonomic profiles of the GIT microbiota. There was a significant difference in the GIT bacterial community structure between heavy- and light-weight calves at Day 3 after castration but not at Day 0 (prior to castration). Our results indicate that dehorning and castration stress reduced microbial diversity of the GIT microbiota, but only in light-weight calves. This work is important for elucidating biological effects of stress on dairy calves and identifying potential modulation points in the microbiota of these food-producing animals to improve animal health and production.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fecal microbiota changes associated with dehorning and castration stress primarily affects light-weight dairy calves

et al. 2019

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“…Our results indicate that the administration of an NSAID postoperatively reduced visual signs of pain in calves up until 36 h after administration. Kleinhenz et al (2018) observed that administration of transdermal flunixin reduced plasma cortisol concentration and mitigated the stress response in calves for 8 h when given at the time of castration. However, negligible effects on the pain biomarkers of substance P, ocular infrared thermography, and gait analysis were observed ( Kleinhenz et al, 2018 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 95%

“… Kleinhenz et al (2018) observed that administration of transdermal flunixin reduced plasma cortisol concentration and mitigated the stress response in calves for 8 h when given at the time of castration. However, negligible effects on the pain biomarkers of substance P, ocular infrared thermography, and gait analysis were observed ( Kleinhenz et al, 2018 ). NSAIDs alone are not effective in reducing the acute distress associated with castration, but their analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects do extend into the postoperative period ( Coetzee, 2013 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 95%

Comparison of the effect of tildipirosin administered alone or in combination with transdermal flunixin on the performance, health, activity, and well-being of transported feedlot calves on arrival at the feedlot

Martin

Kleinhenz

et al. 2020

Translational Animal Science

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Long distance transportation can be a significant source of stress to cattle and is associated with increased risk of bovine respiratory disease (BRD). The administration of a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) has been shown to reduce stress following long distance transport. The objective of this study was to compare performance, health, accelerometer activity, and well-being between calves receiving either tildipirosin (Zuprevo 18%; Merck Animal Health, Madison, NJ) alone or in combination with transdermal flunixin (BANAMINE Transdermal Pour-on Solution; Merck Animal Health, Madison, NJ) on arrival at the feedlot. Three hundred eighty-four polled, Continental × English, and English crossbred bulls (n = 199) and steers (n = 185) were enrolled into one of two treatments: 1) tildipirosin administered in the neck as a single dose of 4 mg/kg only (PLBO) 2) tildipirosin in combination with transdermal flunixin applied to the dorsal midline at a dose of 3.3 mg/kg (FTD). Outcomes measured were average daily gain (ADG), dry mater intake (DMI), gain to feed, morbidity, mortality, accelerometer activity data, and a daily visual analog scale (VAS) assessment of well-being. Body weight (BW) was determined by weighing individual animals; ADG was calculated as initial BW—final BW / total days on feed; DMI was calculated as daily pen feed allocation—feed remaining at next feeding / number of calves in the pen; and gain to feed was calculated as pen level ADG / pen level DMI. The VAS used was a 100 mm line anchored at each end by descriptors of “no pain” or “severe pain”. Statistical analysis was performed using JMP 13 computer software using pen as the experimental unit, lot number as a random variable, and treatment as a fixed variable. There was no treatment effect on DMI (P = 0.51). During the first 14 d on feed, FTD calves had a lower ADG of 0.90 kg/d compared with 1.33 kg/d in the PLBO group (P = 0.05). There were no differences observed in morbidity and mortality between groups (P = 0.29). There were no treatment differences from activity data (P = 0.19). The VAS assessment showed a significant time × treatment interaction (P < 0.001). During the first 36 h after treatment administration, the FTD-treated calves had lower VAS scores [6.23 (95% CI: 5.27–7.20) compared with 7.28 (95% CI: 6.32–8.24)] than PLBO (P < 0.05). Results suggest that FTD-treated calves showed less signs of pain the first 36 h postdrug application relative to PLBO calves.

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“…These findings show that cows treated with meloxicam following calving distribute more weight to the rear limbs compared to placebo cows. When gait analysis was used following surgical castration, a change in the force applied by the front limbs compared to rear limbs was found with castrated calves placing more force on their front limbs (Kleinhenz et al, 2018). This change was attributed to the calf shifting its weight to the front limbs, away from the castration site following the procedure, as the change in weight distribution was not seen in uncastrated controls.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This change was attributed to the calf shifting its weight to the front limbs, away from the castration site following the procedure, as the change in weight distribution was not seen in uncastrated controls. The pressure mat system utilized to determine outcome variables in this study has been used in castration and lameness studies (Kotschwar et al, 2009;Schulz et al, 2011;Coetzee et al, 2014;Kleinhenz et al, 2018). Additionally, the technology used in the current study is similar to that used for the label claim for pain control by transdermal flunixin meglumine (US FDA, 2017).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Rapid Communication: Use of pressure mat gait analysis in measuring pain following normal parturition in dairy cows

Kleinhenz

Gorden

Burchard

et al. 2018

Journal of Animal Science

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Research investigating the pain of normal parturition is lacking as there are few objective methods for measuring pain. The objective of this research was to describe the gait of cows following eutocia using pressure mat gait analysis; and if meloxicam alters the gait of cows. Twenty Holstein cows within 26 h of unassisted calving were enrolled into the study. Treatment groups included: 1) postpartum cows administered meloxicam (MEL; n = 10); and 2) postpartum cows administered placebo (PLBO; n = 10). Meloxicam was administered by oral bolus at 1 mg/ kg within 26 h of calving. Placebo cows were given an oral bolus of dry whey powder within 26 h of calving. A commercially available floor mat-based pressure/force measurement system was used to compare ambulation between treatment groups. Cows were walked across the mat before treatment administration, and 2, 4, 6, 8, 12, 24, 48, and 72 h posttreatment. The percent of total force, percent total contact pressure, and percent total impulse of the rear limbs were calculated. Outcome measures were statistically analyzed using repeated measures, with the cow serving as the experimental unit. Cows in the MEL group placed 48.9% (95% CI: 47.4% to 50.5%) of total force on the rear limbs compared to 46.3% (95% CI: 44.7% to 47.9%) in PLBO cows (P = 0.02). Total impulse on their rear limbs for the MEL cows was 50.5% (95% CI: 48.6% to 52.4%) compared to 46.7% (95% CI: 44.8% to 48.7%) for the PLBO cows (P = 0.01). No differences in contact pressure of the rear limbs were observed (P = 0.27). The PLBO cows had a longer gait 101.3 cm (95% CI: 95.9% to 106.6 cm) vs. 90.8 cm (95% CI: 85.4% to 96.1 cm) (P = 0.03). These findings show meloxicam-treated cows have altered weight distribution to the rear limbs as measured by pressure mat gait analysis, suggesting meloxicam may effectively treat postpartum pain.

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The impact of transdermal flunixin meglumine on biomarkers of pain in calves when administered at the time of surgical castration without local anesthesia

Cited by 38 publications

References 16 publications

Fecal microbiota changes associated with dehorning and castration stress primarily affects light-weight dairy calves

Fecal microbiota changes associated with dehorning and castration stress primarily affects light-weight dairy calves

Comparison of the effect of tildipirosin administered alone or in combination with transdermal flunixin on the performance, health, activity, and well-being of transported feedlot calves on arrival at the feedlot

Rapid Communication: Use of pressure mat gait analysis in measuring pain following normal parturition in dairy cows

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