Dystocia (DYS), defined as a difficult birth resulting from prolonged calving or severe assisted extraction, not only affects the calf, but also negatively impacts the health, survival and productivity of the dam. Furthermore, DYS has been subjectively described by bovine veterinarians as one of the most painful and stressful events that dairy cattle can experience, and is characterized by a severe inflammatory process. The objective of this study was to assess the effect of an oral treatment with acetylsalicylic acid after calving on biomarkers of inflammation and stress in lactating dairy cows. Animals from 3 organic dairy herds were included in the present study. Cows were blocked by parity and calving ease (eutocia [EUT]; DYS) at parturition, and were randomly assigned to 2 groups: (1) ASP (n = 76): at ~12 h after parturition cows received 4 treatments with acetylsalicylic acid (100 mg/kg; 2 boluses) at approximately 12 h intervals; or (2) PLC (n = 76): at ~12 h after parturition cows received 4 consecutive treatments with gelatin capsules (2 capsules) containing water every 12 h. Blood samples were collected immediately before treatment, at 12 h, 24 h, 36 h and 48 h, and at 7 ± 3 DIM for assessment of circulating concentration of biomarkers of inflammation (haptoglobin; HP) and stress (cortisol). The data were analyzed using ANOVA by the MIXED procedure of SAS as a randomized block design with repeated measures. Cows in the ASP group had lower (P < 0.05) concentration of HP at 24 h after parturition (ASP = 65 ± 10.11 μg/mL; PLC = 110 ± 9.86 μg/mL) and tended (P = 0.09) to have lower concentration of HP at 36 h after parturition. Furthermore, cows with DYS had higher (P < 0.05) concentration of HP at 24 h, 36 h, 48h and 7 d after parturition compared with EUT cows. No difference in circulating concentration of cortisol was observed between treatment groups. The results from this study suggest that a short duration anti-inflammatory therapy after calving may decrease inflammatory response in dairy cows early in the postpartum, when the discomfort from parturition may be the highest.