Banamine s

Piglets were randomly allotted to one of three treatment groups differing by route of administration: intramuscular (IM, n = 7), oral (PO, n = 8), and transdermal (TD, n = 8). A randomized block design ensured that an even number of males and females were assigned to each group. After group allocation, a pre-trial blood collection was performed on each piglet. One mortality resulted due to jugular vein hematoma, and therefore the intramuscular group consisted of 7 piglets. Flunixin meglumine was administered at a target dose of 2.2 mg/kg for IM (Banamine®-S, Merck Animal Health, Madison, NJ, USA) administration and a target dose of 3.3 mg/kg for PO and TD (Banamine®-S and Banamine® Transdermal, Merck Animal Health, Madison, NJ, USA). Piglets were weighed the day prior to drug administration to calculate drug dose for each pig. A single-use needle and syringe was used to administer FM in the musculature of the lateral neck, behind the ear. A new feeding tube was used for orogastric intubation and PO administration of FM, followed by a volume of water equal to the volume of the tube to ensure administration of the full dose. TD application consisted of a single-use syringe to apply FM to the dorsal midline skin between the shoulder blades.

At 6 days of age (±1 day) piglets were injected intramuscularly with one of 3 treatments; 0.4 mg/kg meloxicam (Meloxicam solution for injection 5 mg/mL, Putney, Inc., Portland, ME, USA), 2.2 mg/kg flunixin meglumine (Banamine-S®, Merck Animal Health, Summit, NJ, USA) or 3 mg/kg ketoprofen (Ketofen®, Zoetis, Inc., Kalamazoo, MI, USA). Treatment groups were assigned using a random number generator (Microsoft Excel 2016, Microsoft Corporation). The doses were chosen based on existing EU labels for piglets at castration (meloxicam and ketoprofen) or existing USA label dose for other indications in pigs (flunixin). Two hours after drug administration, the piglets were processed (defined in this study as only castrated and tail-docked). Piglets were restrained to expose the anogenital region of the piglet, while a second person performed the procedure. An incision was made on each side of the scrotum using a scalpel, the testicles were pulled from the surrounding tissue and the scalpel was used to cut the testicles free. The tail was then docked using standard tail clippers. Both the castration site and tail were sprayed with betadine to disinfect the wounds.