A comparison between meloxicam and ketoprofen in assisting the recovery of weaner pigs from illness or injury

摘要

The Model Code of Practice for the Welfare of Animals - Pigs (Anon., 2008) states that sick, weak or injured pigs must be treated. Administration of analgaesic/anti-inflammatory drugs is appropriate for pigs suffering pain. Recent studies have suggested that ketoprofen may have a greater efficacy than meloxicam in young pigs (Fosse et ah, 2011), but there have not been any studies to test this in a commercial setting. This study aimed to determine if the administration of ketoprofen as an adjunct toantibiotic treatment was more effective than the administration of meloxicam and an antibiotic on young pigs being admitted into a hospital pen. It was hypothesised that the administration of ketoprofen would decrease recovery time compared to animals treated with meloxicam.