The Effect of Isoflurane and Meloxicam on Behaviour of Dairy Goat Kids Following Cautery Disbudding

The effects of meloxicam (a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug) and isoflurane (a general anaesthetic) on the behaviour of dairy goat kids following cautery disbudding were examined. Seventy-two female Saanen dairy goat kids (2–7 days old) were randomly assigned to one of six treatment groups (n=12/treatment): 1) cautery disbudded (CAUT), 2) meloxicam administered orally (0.2 mg/kg BW) and disbudded (O-MEL), 3) meloxicam injected s.c. (0.5 mg/kg BW) and disbudded (I-MEL), 4) isoflurane gas administered and disbudded (ISO), 5) isoflurane, meloxicam s.c. and disbudded (MEL+ISO), and 6) sham-handled (simulated disbudding; SHAM). Frequency of behaviours (head shaking, head scratching, self-grooming, feeding and body shaking) were continuously recorded with video cameras 24 h pre- and post-treatment. The average change in behaviour (post – pre) per hour post-treatment is presented (mean ± SED). CAUT and SHAM kids were similar for all behaviours (P > 0.05). Head shaking was exhibited more often in O-MEL, I-MEL and ISO kids, than SHAM kids (1.6 ± 0.42, 1.7 ± 0.42, 1.7 ± 0.42 and 0.6 ± 0.42 for I-MEL, O-MEL, ISO and SHAM respectively; P ≤ 0.05). Head scratching was most frequent in I-MEL and MEL+ISO kids compared to SHAM kids (1.4 ± 0.29, 1.1 ± 0.29 and 0.2 ± 0.29 for I-MEL, MEL+ISO and SHAM respectively). Self-grooming was exhibited more often in I-MEL kids compared to SHAM kids (1.3 ± 0.31 vs. 0.4 ± 0.31). O-MEL and ISO kids visited the feeder more often than SHAM kids (1.5 ± 0.47, 1.7 ± 0.47 and 0.4 ± 0.47 for O-MEL, ISO and SHAM respectively). Body shaking was highest in O-MEL and ISO kids compared to SHAM kids (0.7 ± 0.16, 0.6 ± 0.16 and 0.18 ± 0.16 for O-MEL, ISO and SHAM respectively). Interestingly, there appeared to be no advantage of combining meloxicam with isoflurane within 24 h post-treatment, as behaviours were performed at the same frequency as CAUT kids for all behaviours measured (P > 0.05); however, MEL+ISO kids did visit the feeder and head scratch more often than SHAM kids (P ≤ 0.05). These changes in behaviour suggest that administration of either subcutaneous meloxicam or isoflurane gas were effective for reducing post-operative pain and distress associated with cautery disbudding in dairy goat kids.