Epsilon Archive for Student Projects

Abstract

The main purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of the non steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) meloxicam in connection with dehorning of goat kids. Six 2-3,5 weeks old dehorned kids were given daily intramuscular injections of meloxicam (0,5 mg/kg; MG) and five age-matched dehorned kids were given isotonic NaCl (NG) for 3 days. The study was randomized and double blinded. The behavior of the kids was studied one day before dehorning, on the dehorning day and three days after. Blood samples were collected each day before the treatment and analyzed for plasma concentrations of meloxicam, hematocrit, cortisol, progesterone and glucose. We also treated four other kids, born without horns, with meloxicam to analyze the concentration of the drug during six hours following the injection. Blood samples were collected every second hour and analyzed as above. In MG kids the plasma concentration of meloxicam increased each day. Signs of pain diminished gradually after the day of dehorning in both MG and NG kids. Only few differences in behavior were observed between MG kids and NG kids. Hematocrit, cortisol, progesterone and glucose did not differ between the two groups, which support the results of the behavioral studies. The behavior of two kids differed from the others. One male kid in the meloxicam group showed more indications of pain compared to the other MG kids, whereas one female kid became hyperactive and showed no signs of pain although she had received NaCl.
In conclusion, daily injections of meloxicam, at the dose recommended for cattle, resulted in increasing plasma concentrations of the drug. The kids showed signs of pain after dehorning which gradually declined in both groups. The dehorned kids given meloxicam slept more 2 days after dehorning, but there was no other difference in behavior or in physiology between the groups.