title: The effects of firocoxib on cautery disbudding pain and stress responses in preweaned dairy calves.
abstract: Perioperative analgesic effects of oral firocoxib following cautery disbudding were investigated in preweaned calves. Twenty Holstein calves approximately 4 to 6wk old received a single oral dose of firocoxib, a nonsteroidal antiinflammatory, at 0.5mg/kg (n=10) or placebo (n=10) in a randomized controlled clinical trial. Responses, including ocular temperature determined by infrared thermography, pressure algometry measuring mechanical nociception threshold, and heart rate, were evaluated at 2, 4, 7, 8, and 24h after cornual nerve block and cautery disbudding. Blood samples were collected over 96h and analyzed for plasma cortisol and substance P concentrations by RIA. Additionally, ex vivo prostaglandin E2 concentrations were determined over a 72-h study period using an enzyme immunoassay. Data were analyzed using a linear mixed effects model with repeated measures. An inhibition of ex vivo prostaglandin E2 synthesis was observed from 12 to 48h following disbudding in calves treated with firocoxib. Cautery disbudding was associated with an increased nociception for the duration of sampling (24h). During the initial 24-h period following disbudding, no difference in response between treatment groups was noted. Following 24h, mean cortisol concentrations diverged between the 2 study groups with placebo-treated calves having increased cortisol concentrations at approximately 48h after disbudding. Furthermore, the overall integrated cortisol response as calculated as area under the effect curve tended to be reduced in firocoxib-treated calves. The prolonged effects of cautery dehorning require further investigation. Moreover, the effect of firocoxib on cortisol reduction observed in this study requires additional exploration.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences, Iowa State University, Ames 50010.
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Stock
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences, Iowa State University, Ames 50010; Veterinary Diagnostic and Production Animal Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames 50010.
authors.forename: S T
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Millman
authors.affiliation: Veterinary Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames 50010.
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Barth
authors.affiliation: Veterinary Diagnostic and Production Animal Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames 50010.
authors.forename: N K
authors.initials: NK
authors.lastname: Van Engen
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences, Iowa State University, Ames 50010.
authors.forename: W H
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.affiliation: Veterinary Diagnostic and Production Animal Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames 50010.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy and Physiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan 66506.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gehring
authors.affiliation: Veterinary Diagnostic and Production Animal Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames 50010.
authors.forename: R L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Parsons
authors.affiliation: Veterinary Diagnostic and Production Animal Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames 50010. Electronic address: hcoetzee@iastate.edu.
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Coetzee
mesh_terms: D015107:4-Butyrolactone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000097:blood; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002417:Cattle; D002425:Cautery / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006733:Horns / Q000601:surgery; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000097:blood; D010146:Pain / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000662:veterinary; D013373:Substance P / Q000097:blood; D013450:Sulfones / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents; D013450:Sulfones; D013373:Substance P; D015107:4-Butyrolactone; D006854:Hydrocortisone; C487384:firocoxib
keywords: dehorning; disbudding; firocoxib; nonsteroidal antiinflammatory; welfare