Calving is one of the farming calendar’s most critical and stressful times. Sensiblex is one of the latest medical advances that can make a real difference to recovery, productivity, and welfare after giving birth.

Sensiblex contains denaverine hydrochloride, a tissue relaxant that helps soften and dilate the tissues around the birth canal, while also regulating uterine contractions. It’s extremely practical as it is given via intramuscular injection at the point of calving or as soon as intervention is required, making it easy to use during busy calving seasons.
It’s not a replacement for good obstetric technique or stockmanship, but it’s a reliable, supportive treatment that can improve calving outcome and aid in a faster return to normal feeding and behaviour, which is vital postpartum.

1. Reduced pain and discomfort – Calving can cause internal inflammation and pain, especially after difficult births. Sensiblex helps reduce this pain by increasing tissue elasticity and regulating contractions to reduce the risk of tearing or injury to the dam.
2. Shorter duration of labour – A quicker and less painful birth encourages animals to stand, feed, and care for their offspring sooner, reducing the risk of complications like retained placentas and weak calves. This is particularly important with the slow relaxation typical of maiden heifers.
3. Improved calving ease – By aiding dilation of the cervix and vulva, Sensiblex can lower the risk of birth injuries and lead to a faster recovery for both the dam and offspring. In a recent study, Sensiblex reduced the need for calving assistance: only 16.2% of maiden heifers treated with Sensiblex required manual assistance compared to 44.4% of untreated heifers.
4. Reduced perinatal mortality – Fewer traumatic births lead to more live and thriving offspring. That’s the aim of the game after all!

Sensiblex is particularly useful when vaginal examination suggests that additional space is needed – for example a tight maiden heifer.
The injection should be given where the calf is already in the birth canal, while it is putting pressure on the soft tissues to cause them to start dilating.
The key to using Sensiblex is allowing time for tissues to dilate before re-examining. We recommend waiting for half an hour before checking for progress. Give the jab and then put the kettle on! Maximum relaxation is seen 30 minutes after administration, with initial relaxation after 10-15 minutes.
Dosage is 10ml per treatment with a typical protocol involving two injections.
If you are not getting enough dilation after the first dose, it may be time to call the vet while waiting for the second injection to take effect.
If you would like to add Sensiblex to your calving toolkit, please don’t hesitate to speak to one of our vets.

Use in sheep

Sensiblex is not licensed in sheep, but we have seen good results when used in flocks this lambing season. Use is under the ‘prescribing cascade’, so you must be in conversation with your vet on an individual basis.

Using a product like Sensiblex isn’t just about productivity – it’s about animal welfare, through improved recovery and reduced the risk of injury during birth.