Comparative evaluation of analgesic and operative t echniques for amputation of horn in buffaloes

The buffaloes suffering with affections of horn and warranted horn amputation were divided as Standard method of horn amputation with and without sedation and modified method of horn amputation with and without sedation were grouped into I, II, III and IV respec tively. The common pain symptoms like restlessness, twitching of ears, shak ing of head, bruxism, rubbing against fixed objects, pawing at the affect ed site and evading the affected site were observed in horn affections. The pain symptoms and pain score index were more pronounced in the horn cancer and standard method of horn amputation without sedation when compared to the other affections and groups. Elevated physiological parameters and l eucocytosis was noticed in all the groups up to 3 rd and 5 th postoperative day respectively. A significant increase in plasma cortisol and C-react ive protein levels was observed up to 3 rd postoperative day in groups I, II and III; whereas in group IV it was observed only up to 1 st postoperative day. The modified method of horn amputation with sedation proved to b e best, due to its advantages like ease of flap rising, less duration of operation and less stress in terms of low plasma cortisol and C-reactive prot ein levels. The disadvantage of other groups includes more stress a nd more duration of operative procedure.