Does local anaesthetic reduce pain in rubber ring castration of neonatal lambs?

TL;DR

Using local anesthetic before castrating newborn lambs with rubber rings reduces pain and stress markers.

Contribution

This study confirms that local anesthetic significantly reduces pain-related behaviors and cortisol levels in neonatal lambs undergoing rubber ring castration.

Findings

Local anesthetic reduces pain-related behaviors in neonatal lambs after castration.

Plasma cortisol levels are lower in lambs given local anesthetic before castration.

Administering anesthetic 15 minutes before castration may significantly reduce pain signs.

Abstract

In lambs less than 7 days old undergoing castration with rubber rings does administration of local anaesthetic compared to no local anaesthetic result in a reduction of pain-related behaviours?

Treatment.

Six studies were appraised; all were controlled clinical or field trials.

Moderate.

Local anaesthetic administered to lambs castrated with rubber rings resulted in the demonstration of fewer pain related behaviours and also diminished the increases in plasma cortisol in the immediate post-castration period when compared to lambs castrated without local anaesthetic. Local anaesthetic administered at least 15 minutes before rubber ring castration may significantly reduce behavioural signs of pain and plasma cortisol changes.

In lambs less than 7 days old undergoing castration with rubber rings, local anaesthetic reduces markers of pain when compared to lambs castrated without local anaesthetic.