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Measuring the efficacy of flunixin meglumine and meloxicam for lame sows using nociceptive threshold tests

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 January 2023

MD Pairis-Garcia ,
AK Johnson ,
KJ Stalder ,
LA Karriker ,
JF Coetzee  and
ST Millman
MD Pairis-Garcia
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Science, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA
AK Johnson*
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Science, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA
KJ Stalder
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Science, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA
LA Karriker
Affiliation:
Swine Medicine Education Center, College of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA
JF Coetzee
Affiliation:
Pharmacology Analytical Support Service, College of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA
ST Millman
Affiliation:
Departments of Veterinary Diagnostic and Production Animal Medicine and Biomedical Science, College of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA
*
* Contact for correspondence and requests for reprints: johnsona@iastate.edu
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Abstract

Lameness in breeding swine can cause severe pain leading to on-farm welfare issues and significant economic impacts. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs including meloxicam and flunixin meglumine are commonly used in veterinary medicine for their analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties. Pressure algometry and thermal sensitivity tests are non-invasive methods to quantify pain sensitivity using nociceptive thresholds to provoke withdrawal responses on lame and sound legs. The objective of this work was to determine the effects of these drugs on nociceptive thresholds in sows induced lame using pressure algometry and thermal sensitivity tests. Lameness was induced in 24 mature, mixed-parity sows using a chemical synovitis model and three treatments were compared: meloxicam (1.0 mg kg−1 PO), flunixin meglumine (2.2 mg kg−1 IM) and sterile saline (IM). Pressure algometry was measured on sound and lame rear legs with three replicates at three landmarks. Thermal sensitivity tests were done on sound and lame rear legs with three replicates using a thermal stimulus at one landmark. From 37 to 72 h after lameness induction, meloxicam- and flunixin meglumine-treated sows tolerated higher pressure algometer nociceptive thresholds compared to saline-treated sows. Changes in thermal nociceptive thresholds were evident at the Tmax time-points for meloxicam administration and 72 and 168 h post lameness induction for flunixin meglumine-treated sows. In conclusion, flunixin meglumine and meloxicam administration mitigated pain sensitivity in lame sows post lameness induction when pain sensitivity was evaluated with pressure algometry. These analgesic drugs may be a key tool to manage pain associated with lameness.

Keywords

animal welfareflunixin megluminelamenessmeloxicamnociceptive thresholdswine
Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Welfare , Volume 23 , Issue 2 , May 2014 , pp. 219 - 229
Copyright
© 2014 Universities Federation for Animal Welfare

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