Pain Assessment and Acute Phase Response in Donkeys Submitted to Inguinal Orchiectomy.
Authors: Medeiros do Nascimento Rayane Caroline, Graboschii Amanda Caroline Gomes, da Fonseca Lucas Santana, Silva Aline Rocha, Souto Pollyanna Cordeiro, da Fonseca Leandro Abreu, Goulart Marilia Oliveira Fonseca, Escodro Pierre Barnabé
Journal: Journal of equine veterinary science
Summary
# Editorial Summary: Pain Assessment Following Inguinal Orchiectomy in Donkeys Castration via inguinal approach is considered the gold standard in donkeys due to their heightened risk of post-operative complications, yet little clinical data exists on their pain response and inflammatory profiles following this procedure. Researchers evaluated 15 extensively managed donkeys (mean age 4.5 years) undergoing inguinal orchiectomy under dissociative anaesthesia with local lidocaine blocks, assessing behavioural pain indicators, haematological parameters, acute phase proteins (APP), and surgical wound characteristics at 0, 24, 48, and 72 hours post-operatively. Whilst APP and physiological parameters remained stable across all timepoints—likely attributable to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug administration—donkeys exhibited mild to moderate pain scores (2–3 on the assessment scale) without requiring additional intervention, with most animals developing mild to moderate scrotal and preputial oedema that resolved by 48 hours with mean wound scores of 1.6–1.8. The findings suggest that appropriate perioperative analgesia and anti-inflammatory protocols effectively manage acute post-castration pain in donkeys, though the authors highlight a critical gap: donkeys' extensive management systems and behavioural phenotypes may necessitate species-specific pain scoring tools rather than adaptations from conventional equine or small ruminant scales. Practitioners should note that absence of elevated APP does not equate to absence of pain in donkeys, and careful observation of behavioural signs remains essential for detecting post-operative discomfort in this stoic species.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Inguinal orchiectomy with dissociative anesthesia and local lidocaine blocks provides adequate pain control in donkeys undergoing castration, with mild-moderate pain easily managed by NSAIDs
- •Expect mild to moderate scrotal and preputial edema post-operatively in donkeys; this is normal and resolves without intervention by 72 hours
- •Current pain assessment scales may not adequately capture pain behavior in extensively managed donkeys; practitioners should develop herd-specific pain monitoring protocols
Key Findings
- •Pain scores averaged 2-3 (mild to moderate) across 72 hours post-orchiectomy, not requiring intervention
- •No significant differences in physiological parameters or acute phase proteins over 72 hours, attributed to NSAID use
- •Surgical wound scores remained stable (1.8±0.414 at 48h, 1.6±0.507 at 72h) with mild to moderate scrotal and preputial edema
- •Inguinal approach minimizes complications and excessive inflammation in donkey orchiectomy compared to other techniques