title: Comparison of lidocaine and compression for velvet antler analgesia in wapiti.
abstract: This research compared ring block lidocaine anesthesia (L) and compression (C) for velvet antler removal in elk. Thirty-two wapiti were given 1 mg/kg body weight of zuclopenthixol acetate. The next day, they were restrained in a hydraulic chute and given either a compression device or a lidocaine ring block on the antler pedicle. Behavioral and physiological responses to treatment application and antler removal were recorded, and blood was collected for cortisol analysis. During application of L and C, increases in mean heart rate and systolic arterial blood pressure were greater in the C treatment group (P < 0.05, and P = 0.05, respectively). When antler was removed, more behavioral responses occurred in the C treatment group (P = 0.02) and its median behavior score was higher (P = 0.03). Mean heart rates increased for both treatment groups when antlers were removed (P < 0.01). It was concluded that application of C may be painful, and that C was not as effective as L for analgesia for velvet antler removal.
authors.affiliation: Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, 52 Campus Drive, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5B4.
authors.forename: Murray R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Woodbury
authors.forename: Nigel A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Caulkett
authors.forename: Peter R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Wilson
mesh_terms: D000779:Anesthetics, Local; D000818:Animals; D000999:Antlers / Q000601:surgery*; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D003670:Deer / Q000502:physiology* / Q000601:surgery; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D008012:Lidocaine; D009407:Nerve Block / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D010146:Pain / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000662:veterinary; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000779:Anesthetics, Local; D008012:Lidocaine; D006854:Hydrocortisone