33 – Bovine Pain Management Flashcards
1
Q
Pain
A
- Unpleasant SENSORY and EMOTIONAL experience associated with TISSUE DAMAGE
- subjective
- changes in behaviour, slow growth, impaired breeding, stress, and disregard of care: CAN BE MEASURED
2
Q
Pain indicators:
A
- No GOLD STANDARD
- Many studies look at MULTIPLE OUTCOMES
o Validated
o Appropriate based on specific procedure
o Repeatable/reproducible
3
Q
What are the positives of the animal protection act: code of practices?
A
- Dynamic document that evolves based on scientific evidence
4
Q
What are the negatives of the animal protection act: code of practices?
A
- Shaped by industry standards
- Loose requirements based on resource-based measurements
5
Q
Vet oath and CVMA’s position statements
A
- *more ‘strong’ or direct
- Ex. use anesthesia and analgesia is used and at a young age VS. only if over 6 months of age
6
Q
Painful procedures in the cattle
A
- Castration (beef)
- De-budding (dairy)
- Branding (beef)
- Other: lameness, injury, dystocia
- *if vets think it will be painful they will use NSAIDs
- *less use NSAIDs during dehorning and disbudding
7
Q
What are 3 areas for ‘deciding’ to use analgesia (ex. in de-horning and disbudding)
A
- Cost
- Efficacy
- Practicality
- *if no solution in the ‘middle’=may be why they are not using analgesia
8
Q
Survey (published 2017) on castrating and dehorning at specific ages
A
- Usually in young animals
- Not many using pain control
o Likely increased since then (at least for those over 6 months of age)
o For dehorning=must use analgesia now
9
Q
New survey from 2024 on castration and dehorning
A
- 20% more are using some pain mitigation when they didn’t use it before
- Those not using analgesia=at a young age
- *general trend that people are more willing to find and use medication available
10
Q
What are the code of practice requirements for castration in beef cattle?
A
- Do it as young as possible (preferably <1 week)
- Must be performed by competent personnel using proper instruments
- Seek guidance from vet on method, timing and pain control
- Use pain control to mitigate pain associated with castration in bulls older than 6 months
- SURVEY: *heavier the animal: more involved the vet was
11
Q
What are the code of practice requirements for castration in dairy cattle?
A
- Must be done as early as possible using local anesthesia and systemic analgesia
- *less is done in dairy=can be a bit more restrictive
12
Q
What are the methods of castration?
A
- Banding: popular for younger animals
- Burdizzo (‘crushing: less used)
- Surgical/newberry knife + emasculator
- *falls off faster in older animals
13
Q
Literature summary of castration
A
- All methods cause pain
- Banding may be slightly less pain, but might get secondary infection and inflammation
o Swelling up to 5 weeks - Surgical swelling: 2 weeks
- Preferred method is based on age and experience
- *youngest=less signs of pain observed
14
Q
Dehorning/disbudding code of practice: beef
A
- Disbud as early as possible
- Dehorning: must be by competent personnel using proper instruments
- Seek guidance from vet on pain control
- Use pain control to mitigate pain associated with dehorning after horn bud attachment
15
Q
Dehorning/disbudding code of practice: dairy
A
- Must be done by 2 months of age
o Only in exceptional circumstances can it be done past that - Banding is not acceptable for dehorning
- Use local anesthesia and systemic analgesia
- If large horns must be removed, bleeding must be controlled
