Evaluation of pain and meloxicam use in neonatal calf diarrhea

Scours is one of the most common neonatal diseases affecting beef and dairy calves. Multiple etiologic agents have been im­plicated. The disease manifests as malabsorptive or secretory diarrhea with inflammation of the intestinal epithelium. Ab­dominal pain is a symptom commonly reported in humans with diarrhea. Meloxicam is approved as an adjunctive therapy in Canada and the European Union. To date, there are no studies assessing measures of pain in scouring calves, and limited in­formation regarding the use of meloxicam as an ancillary ther­apy. The objective of this study was to examine behavioral and physiological outcomes associated with the expression of pain in calves with scours; and the impact administration of meloxi­cam has on reducing pain-related behaviors and outcomes.