Dehorning of calves is routinely performed in dairy farms. Some advantages of dehorning include, safer handling, decreased injuries to other animals and/or humans, reduce the bruising of the carcass and the aggressive interactions between pen mates. However, dehorning requires pain management to minimize pain and improve welfare. Our objectives were to compare the effects of 2 consecutive treatments with 2 non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (meloxicam [ME] and flunixin meglumine [FM]) on activity patterns (standing and lying time) and physiological parameters (rectal temperature and heart rate) in female Holstein calves after scoop dehorning. Holstein heifers (n = 36) aged 4 to 6 mo from 2 dairy farms were enrolled. On study d −7 HOBO accelerometers were placed on the rear leg of calves. On study d 0 (dehorning) calves were randomly allocated into 3 treatment groups: (1) ME (n = 13; 1.0 mg/kg P.O.); (2) FM (n = 13; 2.2 mg/kg I.V); and (3) Control (CON; n = 13; no dehorning). A cornual nerve block was performed with 2% lidocaine (4 mL) before dehorning. The horns were removed using a Barnes dehorning instrument. Treatments (ME, FM) were administered immediately after dehorning. On study d1, all calves were restrained and second treatment dose was administered to ME and FM calves. Accelerometers were removed on study d6. Physiological parameters were measured on study d −7, 0, 1 and 6. The data were analyzed as a randomized block design with repeated measures using ANOVA by the MIXED procedure of SAS. Dehorned calves (ME and FM) spent less time lying (P < 0.05; ME = 760 ± 18.49 min/d; FM = 763 ± 18.42 min/d; CON = 830 ± 18.83 min/d) and more time standing (P < 0.05; ME = 680 ± 18.49 min/d; FM = 677 ± 18.42 min/d; CON = 610 ± 18.83 min/d) the day after dehorning (d 1); and on d 3 and d 4 (P < 0.05) compared with CON. However, no difference in activity patterns was observed between ME and FM groups. No difference was found on rectal temperature and heart rate between groups. Results of this study suggest that scoop dehorning affects activity patterns, and that the 2 pain management strategies had a similar effect on calf behavior. Dehorning is a painful procedure and pain management strategies should be implemented to minimize pain and improve well-being of animals.