scholarly journals Tail Docking of Canine Puppies: Reassessment of the Tail’s Role in Communication, the Acute Pain Caused by Docking and Interpretation of Behavioural Responses

Animals ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (6) ◽  
pp. 82 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Mellor
Keyword(s):  
Acute Pain ◽  
Behavioural Responses ◽  
Tail Docking

scholarly journals Local Anesthetic Delivered with a Dual Action Ring and Injection Applicator Reduces the Acute Pain Response of Lambs during Tail Docking

Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 2242
Author(s):  
Alison Small ◽  
Danila Marini ◽  
Ian Colditz
Keyword(s):  
Acute Pain ◽  
Local Anesthetic ◽  
Dual Function ◽  
Treatment Groups ◽  
Ewe Lambs ◽  
Tail Docking ◽  
Function Ring ◽  
Dual Action ◽  
Abnormal Behaviors ◽  
Control Sham

Docking the tail of lambs is a standard husbandry procedure and is achieved through several techniques including clamps, hot or cold knives and latex rings, the last of which is the most popular. All tail docking methods cause acute pain which can be reduced by application of local anesthetic, however precise anatomical injection for optimal efficacy requires considerable skill. This pen trial evaluated the ability of local anesthetic (LA) delivered with a dual function ring applicator/injector to alleviate acute tail docking pain. Thirty ewe lambs were assigned to one of three treatment groups (n = 10 per group): ring plus local anesthetic (Ring LA), ring only (Ring) and sham handled control (Sham). Lambs were videoed and their behavior categorized every five minutes for the first hour and every 10 min for the subsequent two hours after treatment. There was a significant effect (p < 0.001) of treatment on total active pain related behaviors in the first hour, with Ring lambs showing higher counts compared to Ring LA or Sham. Ring lambs also displayed a significantly higher count of combined abnormal postures (p < 0.001) than Ring LA or Sham lambs. Delivery of 1.5 mL of 2% lignocaine via the dual action device abolished abnormal behaviors and signs of pain in Ring LA lambs. However, lambs in the Ring LA group spent less time attempting to suckle compared to Ring and Sham lambs, suggesting that some residual discomfort remained.

Acute behavioural responses to tail docking in piglets – Effects of increasing docking length?

2012 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. 185-186
Author(s):  
Mette S. Herskin ◽  
Pierpaolo Di Giminiani ◽  
Birthe M. Damgaard ◽  
Karen Thodberg
Keyword(s):  
Animal Model ◽  
Post Partum ◽  
Behavioural Responses ◽  
Behavioural Changes ◽  
Tail Docking ◽  
Neuroma Formation ◽  
Production Conditions ◽  
Pain Responses

AbstractBackground and aimTail docking has been suggested as an animal model of neuropathy and pain based on findings of relations between the degree of neuroma formation and the docking length. We examined effects of docking length on behaviour of piglets during and 6 h after tail docking.MethodsPiglets were tail docked 2–4 d post-partum. We used 53 piglets and four treatments: intact (I), removal of either 25 (Q), 50 (H) or 75% (T) of the tail. The piglets were kept with sow and littermates under production conditions, and docked using a gas-heated instrument. Behaviour was observed during docking and for the following 6 h.ResultsTail docking led to behavioural changes, the magnitude of which to some extend depended on docking length. Increased docking length led to increased intra-procedural vocalization score (0, 0.6 ± 0.2, 1.4 ± 0.2 and 1.4 ± 0.2 for I, Q, H and T, respectively, P<0.001). In the initial 6h, increased docking length led to increased time spent in the heated creep area (2 ± 1%, 15 ± 6%, 18±8% and 30±6% for I, Q, H and T, respectively; P<0.05). Piglet posture was affected as well, showing that increased docking length led to decreased lying (71 ± 2%, 68 ± 2%, 61 ± 2% and 61 ± 2% for I, Q, H and T, respectively, P<0.01) and increased time spent active (24 ± 2%, 23 ± 2%, 32 ± 2% and 30 ± 3% for I, Q, H and T, respectively, P< 0.05). Pain specific behaviours such as trembling or tail flicking were registered and occurred in 5 ± 1% and 9 ± 1% of observations. However, no effects of docking length could be shown.ConclusionsPiglets responded behaviourally to tail docking. Increasing docking length led to increased pain responses such as intra-procedural vocalizations, hiding behaviour and reduced rest, indicative of increased pain. These results confirm earlier reports suggesting that tail docking might be suitable as an animal model for neuropathy and pain.

Efficacy of precisely injected single local bolus of lignocaine for alleviation of behavioural responses to pain during tail docking and castration of lambs with rubber rings

2020 ◽  
Vol 133 ◽  
pp. 210-218
Author(s):  
Alison Holdhus Small ◽  
Ellen Caroline Jongman ◽  
Dominic Niemeyer ◽  
Caroline Lee ◽  
Ian G. Colditz
Keyword(s):  
Behavioural Responses ◽  
Tail Docking

Do psychological and physiological stressors alter the acute pain response to castration and tail docking in lambs?

2011 ◽  
Vol 38 (2) ◽  
pp. 134-145 ◽  
Author(s):  
Corinna Clark ◽  
Mike Mendl ◽  
Jennifer Jamieson ◽  
Ashleigh Arnone ◽  
Avril Waterman-Pearson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Acute Pain ◽  
Pain Response ◽  
Tail Docking ◽  
Physiological Stressors

scholarly journals Tail docking in pigs: acute physiological and behavioural responses

animal ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 292-297 ◽  
Author(s):  
M.A. Sutherland ◽  
P.J. Bryer ◽  
N. Krebs ◽  
J.J. McGlone
Keyword(s):  
Behavioural Responses ◽  
Tail Docking

scholarly journals Three Studies Evaluating the Potential for Lidocaine, Bupivacaine or Procaine to Reduce Pain-Related Behaviors following Ring Castration and/or Tail Docking in Lambs

Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (12) ◽  
pp. 3583
Author(s):  
Alison Small ◽  
Manon Fetiveau ◽  
Robin Smith ◽  
Ian Colditz
Keyword(s):  
Pain Relief ◽  
Local Anesthesia ◽  
Acute Pain ◽  
Local Anesthetics ◽  
Behavioral Responses ◽  
Pain Behavior ◽  
Duration Of Action ◽  
Duration Of Effect ◽  
Post Procedure ◽  
Tail Docking

The use of local anesthesia at the time of ring castration and tail docking can improve lamb welfare. However, few local anesthetics are registered for sheep, and data on their duration of effect is limited. Three studies were conducted to evaluate the efficacy of procaine (P), lidocaine (L), and bupivacaine (B) in terms of observed alleviation of behavioral responses to castration and/or tail docking in 10-min blocks in the first 60 min post-treatment. In each study, comparisons were made between two groups of lambs castrated and/or tail docked with rubber rings and either receiving the agent using the NUMNUTS® instrument (N) or receiving no anesthetic agent (RR). Acute pain behavior was lower in NL (n = 28) than RRL (n = 15) males in the first 10 min post-procedure (p < 0.05); lower in NB (n = 16) than RRB (n = 16) males in periods 10–20 min (0.05 < p < 0.01), 20–30 min (p < 0.05) and 40–50 min (0.05 < p < 0.01); lower in NB (n = 16) than RRB (n = 16) females between 20 and 40 min post-procedure (0.05 < p < 0.01); lower in NP (n = 8) than RRP (n = 7) males in period 10–20 min (0.05 < p < 0.01), and lower in NP (n = 9) than RRP (n = 9) females in periods 0–10 min (0.05 < p < 0.01), and 10–40 min (p < 0.05). Benefits were modest, and the effects of procaine appear to last longer than lidocaine, while bupivacaine is slower to take effect than either procaine or lidocaine but may provide longer-lasting pain relief. The duration of action of local anesthetics is short in sheep, and detailed behavioral evaluations are required in the first hour post-procedure to establish efficacy.

Behavioural responses of Canis familiaris to different tail lengths of a remotely-controlled life-size dog replica

Behaviour ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 145 (3) ◽  
pp. 377-390 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Method ◽  
Canis Familiaris ◽  
Tail Length ◽  
Domestic Dogs ◽  
Behavioural Responses ◽  
Dog Model ◽  
Tail Docking ◽  
Behavioural Interactions ◽  
Discriminant Analyses ◽  
Intraspecific Communication

AbstractThe tail of dogs and allies (Canidae) is important for intraspecific communication. We used a life-sized dog model and varied the tail length and motion as an experimental method of examining effects of tail-docking on intraspecific signaling in domestic dogs, Canis familiaris. We videotaped interactions of 492 off-leash dogs and quantified size and behaviour of approaching dogs to the model's four tail conditions (short/still, short/wagging, long/still, long/wagging). Larger dogs were less cautious and more likely to approach a long/wagging tail rather than a long/still tail, but did not differ in their approach to a short/still and a short/wagging tail. Using discriminant analyses of behavioural variables, dogs responded with an elevated head and tail to a long/wagging tail model relative to the long/still tail model, but did not show any differences in response to tail motion when the model's tail was short. Our study provides evidence that a longer tail is more effective at conveying different intraspecific cues, such as those provided by tail motion, than a shorter tail and demonstrates the usefulness of robotic models when investigating complex behavioural interactions.

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