Methods of improving performance, increasing weight gain, and decreasing incidence of disease in ruminant and pre-ruminant animals, such as cattle, after undergoing painful processing procedures, such as castration and dehorning, are provided. Veterinary formulations for use in methods of the invention are also provided. The formulations comprise a compound selected from the group consisting of meloxicam, gabapentin, the pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, and combinations thereof. Methods of treating pathological pain in cattle are also provided.
