Assessment of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in treatment of pain in sheep submitted to ruminal cannulation and orchiectomy

ABSTRACT This study aimed to compare the effect of flunixin meglumine, ketoprofen, and meloxicam in the treatment of postoperative pain in sheep submitted to ruminal cannulation and orchiectomy. 32 sheep were submitted to implantation of rumen cannula and orchiectomy, divided into three groups: GFlu (Flunixin meglumine 1,1mg/kg i.v.); GCet (Ketoprofen 3,0mg/kg i.v.); GMel (Meloxicam 0,5mg/kg i.v.). Clinical examination and blood samples were performed at M0 (pre-evaluation), M1 (10 minutes after pre-evaluation), M2 (beginning ruminal cannula), M3 (immediately post-surgery), and M2h, M12h, M23h, M25h, M48h and M72h (2h, 12h, 23h, 25h, 48h and 72 hours post-surgery) with the evaluation of cortisol, glucose, total protein, albumin, γ-glutamyl transferase (GGT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), creatine kinase (CK), urea, creatinine and blood count. At M2h, M12h, M23h, M25h and M48h a behavioral evaluation was performed. The GFlu showed higher concentration of cortisol at M12h and M48h and greater pain score related with fistula and testis procedures at M12h when compared to GMel. Animals in the GCet group presented lower interaction with other animals in the same M23h paddock. The analgesia provided by Meloxicam was higher than flunixin meglumine and ketoprofen in animals submitted to placement of ruminal cannula and orchiectomy.