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Study calls for action on pain relief in calves
Almost all (99 per cent) practitioners surveyed agreed that cattle benefit from receiving analgesic drugs as part of their treatment.
Survey reveals cattle practitioners’ perceptions of pain

The British Veterinary Association (BVA) has welcomed a new study that supports calls for calves to receive more pain relief during husbandry procedures.

The research, led by the University of Nottingham School of Veterinary Medicine, found that the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in addition to local anaesthesia, further controlled pain in calves during procedures like disbudding or castration.

Welcoming the findings, BVA president Gudrun Ravetz said: “Pain recognition, management and treatment of calves during routine husbandry procedures was identified by BVA and British Cattle Veterinary Association as a priority animal welfare problem following the launch of BVA’s Animal welfare strategy last year, and we have been working together closely to progress this issue since.

“So, we welcome these important and timely findings that provide an insight into a critical area of cattle practice and farm animal welfare. We’d strongly urge government, vets, farming bodies and other stakeholders to support the implementation of this study’s recommendations to ensure the highest welfare of the animals we farm.”

The study, published in Vet Record, surveyed some 240 cattle practitioners about their perceptions of pain in their cattle, their use of NSAIDs for a range of 27 different conditions and procedures, and their opinions on acceptable costs for analgesia.

Almost all (99 per cent) practitioners agreed that cattle benefit from receiving analgesic drugs as part of their treatment. The majority (96 per cent) also believed that cattle recover faster if given analgesic drugs.

Interestingly, the study showed that female practitioners and those that graduated after 2010 were more likely to perceive conditions and procedures as painful. Male practitioners and those who graduated before 1990 were more likely to give significantly lower pain scores.

Results revealed that the more painful the condition or procedure, the more likely practitioners would use NSAIDs. However, this was not the case in disbudding and castration in calves, and dystocia and dehorning in adult cattle which, despite being recognised as having a higher pain score, were associated with lower use of pain relief.

John Remnant, clinical assistant professor in farm animal health and production, at the Nottingham Vet School, said: “Overall, the message of this paper is a positive one – it appears that veterinarians’ awareness of pain in cattle and willingness to use analgesics in general has increased over the last decade.

“However, whilst this should be commended, the apparent lack of use of appropriate analgesia specifically in calves undergoing routine husbandry procedures such as castration and disbudding requires urgent action.”

 

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Vets to run marathon for World Animal Protection

News Story 1
 Two recently graduated veterinary surgeons will be running the London Marathon in April to raise money for the charity World Animal Protection.

Alex Bartlett and Maeve O'Neill plan to run the race together if they are given the same start times.

Dr O'Neill said: "You're always limited in what you can do to help animals, so it is nice to raise money for a charity that helps animals around the world."

Dr Bartlett added: "I have never run a marathon before and am excited to run my first one for such a good cause!"

Both Dr Bartlett and Dr O'Neill have fundraising pages online. 

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News Shorts
BSAVA releases new Guide to Procedures

The British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA) has published a new edition of its Guide to Procedures for Small Animal Practice.

It has added four new procedures; cystostomy tube placement, endotracheal intubation, point-of-care ultrasound and wet-to-dry dressings.

BSAVA says that it is an essential step-by-step guide to diagnostic and therapeutic procedures performed in practice. The textbook includes new images and illustrations, as well as high-definition videos for use prior to procedures.

Nick Bexfield and Julia Riggs, editors of the new edition, said: "We have built upon the success of the previous editions by responding to the feedback received from the BSAVA readership, and hope this new guide helps to further increase the confidence and accuracy with which these procedures are performed."

Print copies are available in the BSAVA store, with a digital version in the BSAVA library.