Behavioral evaluation of the analgesic effects of flunixin meglumine in lame dairy cows
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.21423/aabppro20153612Keywords:
lameness, dairy cattle, behavior, animal welfare, NSAID, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugsAbstract
Lameness is a commonly occurring condition in dairy cows in the United States and worldwide. There is substantial evidence that lameness alters the behavior of affected dairy cows in ways that indicate the presence of pain, including increased time spent lying down each day, alterations in locomotion, and increased shifting of weight between the rear limbs. There is also evidence that treatment of lame dairy cows with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can reduce behavioral signs of pain. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of the NSAID flunixin meglumine on lameness-related behavior in dairy cows.