Electroencephalographic assessment of oral meloxicam, topical anaesthetic cream and cautery iron for mitigating acute pain in pigs (Sus scrofa) undergoing tail docking

Prior application of EMLA cream abolished EEG indicators of nociception in pigs docked using clippers. Docking using a cautery iron without analgesia ameliorated EEG indicators of nociception, relative to using clippers without analgesia. Prior administration of EMLA cream or the use of cautery instead of clippers may reduce the acute pain experienced by pigs undergoing tail docking.