[Investigation about the use of analgesics for the reduction of castration-induced pain in suckling piglets] Berliner und Münchener tierärztliche Wochenschrift [Berl Munch Tierarztl Wochenschr] Journal article

The pre-emptive use of analgesics for the reduction of pain induced by the castration of suckling piglets was investigated by measuring cortisol before as well as 30 min (minutes), 1 h (hour), 4 h and 24 h after castration/handling and by post surgical behaviour (0-60 min and 180-240 min after castration/handling). 245 male, 4 to 6 days old piglets with a good general condition were divided into twelve groups. The drugs meloxicam, flunixin, metamizole or carprofen, respectively, or saline solution in control piglets were administered 15 to 30 min before manipulation. All tested non-opioid analgesics reduced the rise of the cortisol concentration after castration. Piglets receiving meloxicam and flunixin had significantly lower values 30 min, 1 h and 4 h after castration than the control group, and already after 1 h they did not differ significantly from the corresponding handling groups. The frequency of occurrence of tail wagging, drooping the tail and changing the position was explicitly reduced when meloxicam and flunixin were injected before castration. The effect of flunixin was most clear. Results indicate that non-opioid analgesics, especially efficient anti-inflammatory drugs like meloxicam and flunixin, are capable of reducing castration-induced pain in piglets.

Berliner und Münchener tierärztliche Wochenschrift [Berl Munch Tierarztl Wochenschr]