Identifying behavioural differences in working donkeys in response to analgesic administration.
Abstract: To identify pain-related behaviour in working donkeys in order to assist their owners and veterinarians to recognise and manage pain. Objective: To identify general and specific behaviours associated with pain or its relief using a trial with the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug meloxicam (Metacam). Methods: Observer-blinded, placebo-controlled trial. Methods: Forty adult male working donkeys with common clinical abnormalities were randomly assigned to receive either a single loading dose of meloxicam (1.2 mg/kg bwt per os; n = 20) or a placebo (30 mg honey/250 ml water per os; n = 20). Observation of postural and event behaviours was undertaken at 2 pretreatment time points followed by 4 post treatment time points, using scan (instantaneous) and focal sampling. Results: In comparison to pretreatment baselines, donkeys receiving meloxicam were more alert post treatment than the placebo group. They were observed lying down less frequently (P = 0.007), with their eyes closed less frequently (P = 0.04) and having a high head carriage more frequently (P = 0.02). Dozing behaviour decreased after meloxicam compared with the pretreatment baseline (P = 0.03). Donkeys given meloxicam also showed more interest in their environment, turning to look at environmental stimuli more frequently (P = 0.05) than those in the placebo group post treatment. Neither the meloxicam nor the placebo group showed a significant post treatment improvement in lameness scores. Conclusions: Working donkeys receiving meloxicam were more active and alert compared with their pretreatment behaviour, confirming the potential value of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in identifying behaviours indicative of pain in working donkeys. Behavioural assessment of pain in working donkeys in field clinic conditions will enable veterinary staff and owners to identify welfare issues promptly and monitor response to analgesia. The Summary is available in Chinese--see Supporting information.
© 2015 EVJ Ltd.
Publication Date: 2015-01-20 PubMed ID: 25256702DOI: 10.1111/evj.12356Google Scholar: Lookup
The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
- Journal Article
- Randomized Controlled Trial
Summary
This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.
This study aimed to identify behaviors in working donkeys that signal pain, as well as those indicating pain relief. The researchers employed a study using the pain relief medication meloxicam and compared the donkeys’ behavior before and after its administration, in comparison to a placebo group.
About the Study
- The research was designed as a placebo-controlled trial to identify behaviors that signal pain or its relief in working donkeys. The researchers used the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug meloxicam.
- A total of 40 adult male working donkeys with common clinical abnormalities were included in the study. They were randomly assigned to receive either a dosage of meloxicam or a placebo.
- Behavioural observations were made at two time points before treatment and at four time points after treatment, using both instantaneous and focal sampling.
Findings of the Study
- The results showed that donkeys that received meloxicam were more alert post-treatment compared to those that received the placebo. They lay down less frequently, closed their eyes less frequently, and carried their heads higher more frequently.
- Donkeys given meloxicam also displayed decreased dozing behavior and showed more interest in their environment by looking at environmental stimuli more frequently than those in the placebo group.
- However, neither the meloxicam group nor the placebo group showed a significant improvement in lameness scores post-treatment.
Conclusions
- The researchers concluded that working donkeys given meloxicam were more active and alert compared to their behavior before treatment. This finding reinforces the usefulness of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in identifying behaviors that indicate pain in working donkeys.
- The study’s findings can help veterinary staff and donkey owners quickly identify welfare issues and gauge the response to analgesia.
Cite This Article
APA
Regan FH, Hockenhull J, Pritchard JC, Waterman-Pearson AE, Whay HR.
(2015).
Identifying behavioural differences in working donkeys in response to analgesic administration.
Equine Vet J, 48(1), 33-38.
https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.12356 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- School of Veterinary Sciences, University of Bristol, UK.
- School of Veterinary Sciences, University of Bristol, UK.
- Animals in International Development, North Somerset, UK.
- The Brooke, London, UK.
- School of Veterinary Sciences, University of Bristol, UK.
- School of Veterinary Sciences, University of Bristol, UK.
MeSH Terms
- Analgesics / pharmacology
- Animals
- Behavior, Animal / drug effects
- Equidae
- Female
- Male
- Meloxicam
- Thiazines / pharmacology
- Thiazoles / pharmacology
Citations
This article has been cited 10 times.- Seganfreddo S, Fornasiero D, De Santis M, Mutinelli F, Normando S, Contalbrigo L. A Pilot Study on Behavioural and Physiological Indicators of Emotions in Donkeys. Animals (Basel) 2023 Apr 25;13(9).
- Ibrahim A, Mahmoud UT, Ali MM, Ragab SMM. Evaluation of the subcapsular technique for primary closure castration in donkeys (Equus asinus). Sci Rep 2021 Jul 7;11(1):14080.
- de Oliveira MGC, de Paula VV, Mouta AN, Lima IO, de Macêdo LB, Nunes TL, Trindade PHE, Luna SPL. Validation of the Donkey Pain Scale (DOPS) for Assessing Postoperative Pain in Donkeys. Front Vet Sci 2021;8:671330.
- Bukhari SSUH, McElligott AG, Parkes RSV. Quantifying the Impact of Mounted Load Carrying on Equids: A Review. Animals (Basel) 2021 May 7;11(5).
- de Oliveira MGC, Luna SPL, Nunes TL, Firmino PR, de Lima AGA, Ferreira J, Trindade PHE, Júnior RAB, de Paula VV. Post-operative pain behaviour associated with surgical castration in donkeys (Equus asinus). Equine Vet J 2021 Mar;53(2):261-266.
- van Dierendonck MC, Burden FA, Rickards K, van Loon JPAM. Monitoring Acute Pain in Donkeys with the Equine Utrecht University Scale for Donkeys Composite Pain Assessment (EQUUS-DONKEY-COMPASS) and the Equine Utrecht University Scale for Donkey Facial Assessment of Pain (EQUUS-DONKEY-FAP). Animals (Basel) 2020 Feb 22;10(2).
- Pinsky TC, Puja IK, Aleri J, Hood J, Sasadara MM, Collins T. A Pilot Welfare Assessment of Working Ponies on Gili Trawangan, Indonesia. Animals (Basel) 2019 Jul 9;9(7).
- Olaifa FH, Ayo JO, Aluwong T, Rekwot PI, Zakari FO. Ergonomic study of donkeys administered with Pycnogenol® and subjected to packing during the hot-dry season in Northern Nigeria. Trop Anim Health Prod 2019 Feb;51(2):389-394.
- Regan Nee Ashley FH, Hockenhull J, Pritchard JC, Waterman-Pearson AE, Whay HR. Clinical abnormalities in working donkeys and their associations with behaviour. Vet Rec Open 2015;2(1):e000105.
- Mendoza FJ, Buzon-Cuevas A, Aguilera-Aguilera R, Gonzalez-De Cara CA, De Las Heras A, Perez-Ecija A. Hemodynamic Response to Lipopolysaccharide Infusion and Effect of Meloxicam Administration on Cardiac Function in Donkeys. Animals (Basel) 2024 Dec 18;14(24).
Use Nutrition Calculator
Check if your horse's diet meets their nutrition requirements with our easy-to-use tool Check your horse's diet with our easy-to-use tool
Talk to a Nutritionist
Discuss your horse's feeding plan with our experts over a free phone consultation Discuss your horse's diet over a phone consultation
Submit Diet Evaluation
Get a customized feeding plan for your horse formulated by our equine nutritionists Get a custom feeding plan formulated by our nutritionists
