title: Analgesic effects of meloxicam administration on postoperative orthopedic pain in domestic pigeons (Columba livia).
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the analgesic effects of 2 doses of meloxicam on the degree of postoperative orthopedic pain in pigeons.
  
  
  METHODS
  21 domestic pigeons (Columba livia).
  
  
  METHODS
  In each bird, a standardized osteotomy of 1 femur was performed and the fracture was immobilized with an intramedullary pin. Birds were randomly allocated to receive saline (0.9% NaCl) solution (control) or meloxicam (0.5 mg/kg [low dose] or 2.0 mg/kg [high dose]). The first treatment was administered i.m. after surgery was completed. Subsequent treatments were administered p.o. every 12 hours for 9 days. Degree of postoperative pain was assessed for the first 4 days after surgery by use of 3 methods: an electronic perch for assessment of weight-bearing load differential of the pelvic limbs, 4 pain scales, and analysis of video-recorded partial ethograms for bird activity and posture.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No significant differences were observed between the control group and the low-dose meloxicam group in any tested variable. The high-dose meloxicam group had a greater degree of weight bearing on the affected limb from the second to the fourth postoperative day as well as lower pain scores for at least the first 2 postoperative days, compared with the other groups. Return to presurgical behavior was achieved faster in pigeons that received high-dose meloxicam than in the other groups. No adverse effects were observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Administration of meloxicam at 0.5 mg/kg appeared ineffective in minimizing postoperative orthopedic pain in pigeons, but the 2.0 mg/kg dose provided quantifiable analgesia that appeared safe in this species in experimental conditions.
authors.affiliation: Département de Sciences Cliniques, Faculté de Médecine Vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, St-Hyacinthe, QC J2S 7C6, Canada.
authors.forename: Marion
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Desmarchelier
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Troncy
authors.forename: Guy
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Fitzgerald
authors.forename: Stéphane
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lair
mesh_terms: D000698:Analgesia / Q000662:veterinary; D000818:Animals; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001715:Bird Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D001847:Bone Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D010856:Columbidae; D005264:Femoral Fractures / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D000077239:Meloxicam; D009043:Motor Activity; D010027:Osteotomy / Q000662:veterinary; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000662:veterinary; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D013843:Thiazines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013844:Thiazoles / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016474:Weight-Bearing
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D013843:Thiazines; D013844:Thiazoles; D000077239:Meloxicam