Pain Management in Ruminants

This volume provides information and support on the use of analgesics in ruminant species, together with general management advice for pain alleviation and prevention in cattle, sheep and their wild relatives. A number of published studies in domestic ruminants have demonstrated that pain control has produced not only benefits in demeanour, but also in productivity measures such as growth rate and milk production.  

This volume's central flowchart is divided into sections, hyperlinked as appropriate.   Introductory texts on understanding pain are developed along three main themes: neurophysiology of pain; reasons for pain relief; and reasons for failure of pain relief. In the section on assessment of pain in ruminants, behavioural and physiological responses to pain are considered, including descriptions of lameness classification systems, and the difficulty in assessing pain in these stoical species. Common painful conditions in ruminants (e.g. lameness, mastitis) and a number of painful clinical and management procedures (e.g. castration, tail docking and harvesting of velvet antler from stags) are assessed in detail. Information on the prevention of pain for planned procedures and alleviation of pain in painful conditions is reviewed in the context of pain management options. Detailed consideration of twenty-four individual analgesics, their pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics and drug delivery methods is provided, including methods important in the treatment of ruminants which are non-domestic and/or difficult to handle. A directory lists important organisations and websites where further information may be found.

This is a Wildpro volume, published by Wildlife Information Network. Suitable for veterinarians, veterinary students, research workers and others in considering conditions and procedures causing pain in ruminants, and management of that pain. Available here.

ISBN: 0-9547185-8-9