Effects of pain and nonsteroid anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) after abomasal displacement operations of cattle

Abstract

Displacement of abomasum (DA) is one of the most common non-infectious disease in dairy cattle and multifactorial condition characterized by gas and fluid building up in the abomasum. A number of medical and mechanical technique are used for treatment of DA, but the most effective method is surgery. The aim of this study was to evaluate post-operative pain caused by DA operations and to compare the effects of ketoprofen, flunixin meglumine and acetaminophen. In total, 24 Holstein dairy cattle (3-8 years old; 5 +/- 1.6 years) were used as subjects for this study. All animals were subjected to similar environments and feeding conditions. The cows were examined for postpartum diseases such as mastitis, retention secundinarium, hoof problems and ketosis and the animals diagnosed of these diseases were excluded. Right flank laparotomy was carried out on all subjects. In the pre and post-operavite periods, adrenaline, noradrenaline, cortisol, body temperature (BT), heart rate (HR), respiratory rate (RR) and rumen contraction (RC) were recorded. The statistical differences were evaluated for laboratory and clinical parameters. The significant differences were found in plasma adrenaline, noradrenaline and serum cortisol levels between groups' evaluations. Generally, the measured BT, HR, RR and RC values were higher in control group than study groups. In abdominal surgeries very little research has focused on the differences in type, magnitude and time course between somatic and visceral pain. In cattle the surgical treatment methods of DA include left flank, right flank and right paramedian approaches. Pain from these procedures can be similar to laparotomies, however the procedures require the manipulation and suturing of the abomasum or periabomasal tissue, which may cause additional pain. In this study, flunixin meglumine was found to be more effective than ketoprofen in postoperative pain control. As a result of this study, it was concluded that it is necessary to provide effective postoperative analgesia after DA operations in cattle for the animals' welfare and treatment of anormal physiological function.