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Analgesia and pain management in cattle

Abstract

Pain mitigation strategies in cattle have been the subject of many research projects in recent years. The use of local anesthetic blockade and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory  drugs (NSAID) at the time of painful procedures have been well documented. There are only a few local anesthetic agents available for the veterinary practitioner to use. However, there are a variety of NSAIDs that have been studied. In the United States there are no US Food and Drug Administration approved NSAIDs for the control of pain associated with dehorning or castration. Carprofen, firocoxib, flunixin, ketoprofen, and meloxicam have all been studied for their analgesic properties for castration and/ or dehorning. Each of these drugs have distinct pharmacokinetic properties which need to be taken into account to formulate a dosing regimen. This review covers pharmacologic approaches to pain management in food animals following castration, dehorning, and lameness events with a special focus on NSAID therapy.