Carprofen as an analgesic for postoperative pain in cats: Dose titration and assessment of efficacy in comparison to pethidine hydrochloride

The aim of this study was to titrate the optimal dose of carprofen for single dose usage, for alleviating postoperative pain, under a double-blind and randomised protocol, using both negative and positive controls. Renal tolerance was assessed by screening plasma urea and creatinine. Pre- and postoperative assessment of pain and sedation was made using a dynamic and interactive visual analogue scoring system in 60 cats undergoing ovariohysterectomy. The cats were randomly assigned to one of six groups: (1) carprofen at 1-0 mg/kg subcutaneously (sc); (2) carprofen at 2-0 mg/kg sc; (3) carprofen at 4-0 mg/kg sc; (4) pethidine at 5-0 mg/kg intramuscularly (im), (5) pethidine at 10-0 mg/kg im; and (6) no analgesics (injection of saline). All injections were given postoperatively on tracheal extuba-tion and administered in a double-blind manner. Assessments were made up to 20 hours post extubation. Prior to induction and at 20 hours post extubation, blood samples were taken for laboratory analysis of the urea and creatinine content to check for any adverse effect on renal function. Cats given pethidine did not appear more sedated than the groups receiving carprofen or saline. Cats receiving carprofen were in less pain postoperatively overall, with 4-0 mg/kg being the most effective dose rate (significantly better than the other doses of carprofen at four and eight hours post extubation). The highest dose of pethidine provided significantly better analgesia than the highest dose of carprofen up to two hours post extubation, but from two to 20 hours post extubation carprofen at 4-0 mg/kg provided significantly better analgesia than the pethidine. None of the analgesic regimens appeared to affect renal function adversely, as measured by urea and creatinine levels.     

Comparison of analgesic efficacy of preoperative or postoperative carprofen with or without preincisional mepivacaine epidural anesthesia in canine pelvic or femoral fracture repair

Objective— To compare analgesic efficacy of preoperative versus postoperative administration of carprofen and to determine, if preincisional mepivacaine epidural anesthesia improves postoperative analgesia in dogs treated with carprofen. Study Design— Blind, randomized clinical study. Animals— Dogs with femoral (n=18) or pelvic (27) fractures. Methods— Dogs were grouped by restricted randomization into 4 groups: group 1=carprofen (4 mg/kg subcutaneously) immediately before induction of anesthesia, no epidural anesthesia; group 2=carprofen immediately after extubation, no epidural anesthesia; group 3=carprofen immediately before induction, mepivacaine epidural block 15 minutes before surgical incision; and group 4=mepivacaine epidural block 15 minutes before surgical incision, carprofen after extubation. All dogs were administered carprofen (4 mg/kg, subcutaneously, once daily) for 4 days after surgery. Physiologic variables, nociceptive threshold, lameness score, pain, and sedation (numerical rating scale [NRS], visual analog scale [VAS]), plasma glucose and cortisol concentration, renal function, and hemostatic variables were measured preoperatively and at various times after surgery. Dogs with VAS pain scores >30 were administered rescue analgesia. Results— Group 3 and 4 dogs had significantly lower pain scores and amount of rescue analgesia compared with groups 1 and 2. VAS and NRS pain scores were not significantly different among groups 1 and 2 or among groups 3 and 4. There was no treatment effect on renal function and hemostatic variables. Conclusions— Preoperative carprofen combined with mepivacaine epidural anesthesia had superior postoperative analgesia compared with preoperative carprofen alone. When preoperative epidural anesthesia was performed, preoperative administration of carprofen did not improve postoperative analgesia compared with postoperative administration of carprofen. Clinical Relevance— Preoperative administration of systemic opioid agonists in combination with regional anesthesia and postoperative administration of carprofen provides safe and effective pain relieve in canine fracture repair.     

Comparison of preoperative carprofen and postoperative butorphanol as postsurgical analgesics in cats undergoing ovariohysterectomy

OBJECTIVE: To compare carprofen to butorphanol, with regard to postsurgical analgesic effects, duration of analgesia, and adverse side effects. STUDY DESIGN: Blinded, randomized clinical study. ANIMALS: Seventy-one cats, 0.5-5 years of age, weighing 3.24 +/- 0.61 kg, undergoing ovariohysterectomy (OHE). METHODS: Cats were premedicated with subcutaneous atropine (0.04 mg kg(-1)), acepromazine (0.02 mg kg(-1)), and ketamine (5 mg kg(-1)). Anesthesia was induced with ketamine (5 mg kg(-1)) and diazepam (0.25 mg kg(-1)) given intravenously, and maintained with isoflurane. There were three treatment groups: group C (4 mg kg(-1) carprofen SC at induction), group B (0.4 mg kg(-1) butorphanol SC at end of surgery), and group S (0.08 mL kg(-1) of sterile saline SC at induction and end of surgery). Behavioral data were collected using a composite pain scale (CPS), prior to surgery (baseline) and 1, 2, 3, 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, and 24 hours post-surgery. Interaction scores were analyzed separately. Cats with CPS scores >12 received rescue analgesia (meperidine, 4 mg kg(-1), intramuscular). RESULTS: Sixty cats completed the study. The CPS scores did not differ significantly between groups C and B at any time period. CPS scores for groups B and C were significantly increased for 12 hours post-surgery, and in group S for 20 hours. Both group C and B CPS scores were significantly lower than group S in this 20-hour postoperative period, except at 4 hours (B and C) and at 3 and 8 hours (B alone). Interaction scores for group C returned to preoperative baseline 4 hours after surgery, while both groups B and S remained increased for at least 24 hours post-surgery. Nine cats required meperidine. CONCLUSION: In this study, carprofen provided better postsurgical analgesia than butorphanol. Clinical relevance Neither drug completely abolished pain, however preoperative carprofen provided better pain control compared with postoperative butorphanol in the 24-hour period following OHE surgery in cats.     

Comparison between meloxicam and carprofen for postoperative analgesia after feline ovariohysterectomy

Eighty female cats presented for ovariohysterectomy were randomly allocated to one of two treatment groups in this assessor-blinded trial. After pre-anaesthetic assessment, the cats were premedicated with acepromazine (0.1 mg/kg). Anaesthesia was induced with thiopentone and maintained with halothane in oxygen. Forty cats received carprofen (4 mg/kg subcutaneously) and 40 received meloxicam (0.3 mg/kg subcutaneously) after anaesthetic induction. Following routine flank ovariohysterectomy the cats were assessed using visual analogue scale scores for pain and sedation over a 20-hour study period. Blood samples were taken before sedation and at 20 hours for serum biochemistry (urea, creatinine, alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase). There were no significant differences between the groups for pain and sedation scores. Serum biochemistry values were similar between the groups, with some differences within groups between the pre-sedation and 20-hour values. One cat in the carprofen group and two cats in the meloxicam group required rescue analgesia with intramuscular morphine (0.2 mg/kg).     

Comparison of the effects of oral or subcutaneous carprofen or ketoprofen in rats undergoing laparotomy

Rats undergoing laparotomy received either carprofen (5 mg/kg) or ketoprofen (5 mg/kg) administered orally in flavoured gelatin, or by subcutaneous injection. A control group that received no analgesic showed a significant (3 per cent) fall in bodyweight (P = 0.009) after laparotomy. This decrease was greater than that seen in the groups receiving carprofen (P = 0.006) or ketoprofen (P = 0.012) administered subcutaneously, which continued to gain weight following surgery. All animals showed a significant fall in food consumption but this decrease was greater in the jelly alone group (47 per cent) than in the group receiving carprofen (17 per cent) (P = 0.015) administered subcutaneously. A significant fall in water consumption occurred in the control group (40 per cent) and in animals that received oral carprofen (13 per cent) or Ketoprofen (22 per cent). No significant decrease was seen in groups receiving either carprofen or ketoprofen administered subcutaneously (P > 0.1). This study shows that a relatively simple surgical procedure results in a major reduction in food and water consumption in rats. This reduction can be minimised by the administration of ketoprofen or carprofen (5 mg/kg subcutaneously), but higher dose rates are required if these drugs are to be administered by the oral route.     

Use of a continuous, local infusion of bupivacaine for postoperative analgesia in dogs undergoing total ear canal ablation

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether addition of a continuous, local infusion of bupivacaine would improve postoperative analgesia in dogs undergoing total ear canal ablation. DESIGN: Randomized controlled trial. ANIMALS: 16 dogs undergoing total ear canal ablation (12 unilaterally and 4 bilaterally with > 1 month between procedures). PROCEDURE: Dogs were randomly allocated to receive morphine (0.25 mg/kg [0.11 mg/lb]) at the end of the procedure (10 procedures) or morphine and a continuous, local infusion of bupivacaine (0.13 to 0.21 mg/kg/h [0.06 to 0.1 mg/lb/h]; 10 procedures). Dogs were observed for 48 hours after surgery. Additional doses of morphine were administered up to every 4 hours in dogs with signs of severe pain. RESULTS: Temperament, sedation, analgesia, and cumulative pain scores were not significantly different between groups any time after surgery. Recovery score was significantly higher for dogs that received bupivacaine than for control dogs 2 hours after extubation but not at any other time. Serum cortisol concentration was not significantly different between groups at any time but, in both groups, was significantly increased at the time of extubation, compared with all other observation times. Total number of additional doses of morphine administered was not significantly different between groups. Bupivacaine was not detected in the plasma of any of the dogs that received the local bupivacaine infusion. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results suggest that addition of a continuous, local infusion of bupivacaine did not significantly increase the degree of postoperative analgesia in dogs that underwent total ear canal ablation and were given morphine at the end of surgery.     

Effects of tramadol,morphine or their combination in dogs undergoing ovariohysterectomy on peri-operative electroencephalographic responses and post-operative pain

Abstract

AIM: To compare the peri-operative electroencephalogram (EEG) responses and post-operative analgesic efficacy of pre-operative morphine or tramadol with a combination of low-dose pre-operative morphine and post-operative tramadol, in dogs undergoing ovariohysterectomy.

METHODS: Dogs undergoing routine ovariohysterectomy were treated with either pre-operative morphine (0.5 mg/kg S/C, n=8), or tramadol (3 mg/kg S/C, n=8), or pre-operative low-dose morphine (0.1 mg/kg S/C) and post-operative tramadol (3 mg/kg I/V, n=8). All dogs received routine pre-anaesthetic medication, and anaesthesia was induced with I/V thiopentone to effect and maintained with halothane in oxygen. Respiratory rate, heart rate, end-tidal halothane tension (EtHal) and end-tidal CO₂ tension (EtCO₂) were monitored throughout surgery. The EEG was recorded continuously in a three electrode montage. Median frequency (F50), total power (Ptot) and 95% spectral edge frequency (F95) of the EEG power spectra were compared during different 100-second periods of surgery: prior to and during skin incision, ligation of each ovarian pedicle, ligation of uterine body and skin closure. Post-operatively, pain was assessed using the short form of the Glasgow composite measure pain scale (CMPS-SF).

RESULTS: There was no difference in F50 or Ptot of the EEG between baseline and noxious surgical events within each treatment group, or between the three groups (p>0.05). The mean F95 was higher during the first three periods of surgery for dogs administered tramadol and low-dose morphine than those that received 0.5 mg/kg morphine (p=0.001). Dogs that received low-dose morphine and tramadol had lower CMPS-SF pain scores after ovariohysterectomy than those that received either tramadol or morphine alone (p=0.001). There was no difference in pain scores between dogs in the latter two groups.

CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Tramadol and morphine administered pre-operatively provided an equal degree of post-operative analgesia in dogs after ovariohysterectomy. A combination of pre-operative low-dose morphine and post-operative tramadol produced better post-operative analgesia than either drug administered alone pre-operatively. Administration of analgesics pre- and post-operatively could result in improved post-operative well-being of ovariohysterectomised dogs.     

Postoperative analgesia in dogs receiving epidural morphine plus medetomidine

This investigation was carried out to compare the postoperative analgesia and plasma morphine concentrations in dogs given epidural morphine or epidural morphine combined with medetomidine prior to surgery. Twelve dogs (seven males and five females) with ruptured cranial cruciate ligaments presented to the Washington State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital. Six dogs received an epidural injection of morphine (0.1 mg/kg) and six dogs received epidural morphine (0.1 mg/kg) combined with medetomidine (0.005 mg/kg). Numeric rating scale (NRS) pain scores and cumulative pain scores (CPS) were assigned to 10-min segments of video. Video segments, heart rates and respiratory rates were recorded prior to premedication and at 4, 8, 12, 18 and 24 h after epidural injection. Blood was sampled from the cephalic vein at each of these times and during anesthesia at 0.5, 1, 2 and 3 h after epidural injection. Data were analyzed using either Friedman's test or one-way anova for repeated measures. In the morphine group, significant increases compared with premedication values were detected at 4, 8 and 12 h after epidural injection for NRS and at 4 and 12 h after epidural injection for CPS. In the morphine plus medetomidine group, NRS was significantly higher at 4 and 8 h whereas there were no differences from baseline values for CPS. Plasma morphine concentrations were not significantly different between treatment groups, but were significantly increased compared with preinjection values at 0.5, 1, 12, 18, and 24 h in the morphine plus medetomidine group. Epidurally administered morphine combined with medetomidine was associated with only minor benefits based on subjective pain scoring when compared with morphine alone in these dogs undergoing repair of a ruptured cranial cruciate ligament.     

Anti-nociceptive efficacy of carprofen, levomethadone and buprenorphine for pain relief in cats following major orthopaedic surgery

A placebo-controlled, randomized blind study was conducted in cats (n = 60) after fracture repair to compare the analgesic effects as well as the side-effects of carprofen, buprenorphine and levomethadone during a 5-day treatment. Cats with severe shock symptoms or increases in blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine were excluded from the study. The cats were randomly assigned to four groups (n= 15). In group 1, carprofen was administered upon extubation at an initial dose of 4 mg/kg body weight, followed by one-third of that dose three times daily on days 2 to 5. In group 2, buprenorphine was administered in a single dose of 0.01 mg/kg body weight upon extubation and subsequently every 8 h. Levomethadone (group 3) was applied according to the same scheme at a dosage of 0.3 mg/kg body weight each time. The placebo (group 4) was given at the same time intervals as the opioids. Examinations were carried out prior to anaesthesia, between 30 min and 8 h after extubation, and on the following 4 days, 1 h after administration of the analgesics or the placebo as well as 1 h before the next administration. Pain and sedation evaluation was carried out with a visual analogue system (VAS) and with the aid of a numerical estimation scale (NRS). Pain was also scored by measuring mechanical nociceptive threshold of traumatized tissue. Plasma glucose and cortisol concentration, heart rate, respiration rate, blood pressure and body temperature were measured. Furthermore, a complete blood count and clinical chemistry including BUN, creatinine, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), glutamate dehydrogenase (GLDH), arterial blood pressure (AP), total protein and electrolytes of the cats were checked on the day of admission as well as on the last day of this study (day 5). Defaecation and urination as well as wound healing were monitored. On the basis of the mechanical nociceptive threshold of the traumatized tissue, concentrations of plasma glucose and cortisol and pain assessment using NRS and VAS, carprofen was found to have better anti-nociceptive efficacy when compared with the two opioid analgesics, while the analgesic effect of levomethadone was similar to that of buprenorphine. However, the carprofen group also showed comparably high median NRS and VAS pain scores in addition to occasional broad deviations from the group mean on the first post-operative treatment day. Sedative effects were detected for buprenorphine and levomethadone; in addition, symptoms of central excitation were noted with levomethadone. There was no indication of any clinically relevant respiratory depressive or cardiovascular effects, nor of any undesired renal, gastrointestinal or hepatic effects of the analgesics applied. However, the somewhat insensitive examination methods did not permit sufficient evaluation of side-effects, particularly on the gastrointestinal tract and the kidneys. It was found that carprofen and buprenorphine were well-tolerated analgesics for a 5-day administration in the cat, whereas levomethadone caused central excitation in some cases in the dosage scheme used here. However, it was apparent that none of the tested analgesics induced sufficient analgesia in the post-operative phase. For this reason, suitable methods must be found to improve analgesia, particularly in the immediate post-operative phase.     

Effect of extradurally administered morphine on postoperative analgesia in dogs undergoing surgery for thoracolumbar intervertebral disk extrusion

Objective-To investigate the effect of intraoperative extradural morphine administration on postoperative analgesia in dogs undergoing thoracolumbar spinal surgery to treat disk extrusion. Design-Prospective clinical trial. Animals-26 client-owned dogs undergoing thoracolumbar spinal surgery. Procedures-Animals were randomly allocated to receive morphine (0.1 mg/kg [0.045 mg/lb], extradurally) or no treatment (control group). Following preanesthetic medication with methadone (0.25 mg/kg [0.11 mg/lb], IM), anesthesia was induced with propofol and maintained with isoflurane or sevoflurane in oxygen. Lidocaine and fentanyl were administered during surgery in both groups at fixed rates. In the morphine administration group, morphine was splashed over the dura mater immediately prior to wound closure. Postoperative analgesia was assessed for 48 hours by assessors unaware of group allocation, and methadone was administered as rescue analgesic. Demographic characteristics, urinary output, days of hospitalization, and perioperative use of analgesics were compared via a Mann-Whitney U test. Results-Demographic data were similar between groups. In the morphine administration group, 2 of 13 dogs required postoperative methadone, and in the control group, methadone was administered to 11 of 13 dogs. The total number of doses of methadone administered in the 48 hours after surgery was 28 in the control group and 3 in the morphine administration group. No adverse effects were recorded in any group. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance-Intraoperative extradural morphine administration was effective in reducing postoperative analgesic requirement. Dogs undergoing thoracolumbar spinal surgery benefited from topical administration of preservative-free morphine administered directly on the dura mater as part of analgesic management.     

Comparison of analgesia provided by lidocaine, lidocaine-morphine or lidocaine-tramadol delivered epidurally in dogs following orchiectomy

ObjectiveTo evaluate and compare the postoperative analgesia provided by epidural lidocaine, lidocaine/morphine or lidocaine/tramadol in dogs following elective orchiectomy.Study designProspective experimental trial.AnimalsThirty-six mongrel dogs aged 2-8 years old, weighing 6.6-22 kg.MethodsThe dogs received 6.0 mg kg^?1 of lidocaine combined with 1.0 mg kg^?1 of tramadol, 0.1 mg kg^?1 of morphine or 0.01 mL kg^?1 of 0.9% NaCl epidurally. Analgesia was assessed at 4, 8, 12, 18 and 24 hours (T4, T8, T12 and T24) after the offset of lidocaine using a scale composed of physiologic and behavioral parameters. Rescue analgesia with morphine (0.2 mg kg^?1, IM) was performed if the evaluation score exceeded 10 during the postoperative period. The scores over time were analyzed using the Friedman’s two-way analysis of variance and the comparison between groups was made by the Kruskal-Wallis test with statistical significances accepted if p = 0.05.ResultsThere were no differences in the pain scores between the morphine and tramadol groups over time and no rescue analgesia was administered. In the NaCl group, rescue analgesia was needed at T4, T8 and T12. Within this group, the final evaluation times (T18 and T24) had lower pain scores than at T4, T8 and T12.Conclusions and clinical relevanceEpidural lidocaine/tramadol provided an analgesic effect comparable to that of epidural lidocaine/morphine during the first 12 hours after surgical castration without substantial side effects, suggesting that tramadol may be an effective postoperative analgesic in dogs submitted to this surgical procedure.     

Effects of two doses of buprenorphine four or six hours apart on nociceptive thresholds, pain and sedation in dogs after castration

Twenty-eight dogs were randomly allocated into two groups. They were premedicated with either 10 or 20 microg/kg buprenorphine and 0.05 mg/kg acepromazine administered intramuscularly, and then anaesthetised with intravenous thiopentone to effect and maintained with isoflurane in 100 per cent oxygen. The dogs underwent routine castration, and a second dose of 10 microg/kg buprenorphine was administered four hours after the first or 20 microg/kg six hours after the first dose. Levels of pain and sedation were scored on a visual analogue scale and in terms of the dogs' requirement for rescue analgesia, and mechanical nociceptive thresholds were measured at the hock and wound at premedication and one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, 10 and 21 to 22 hours later. Pain scores were low in both groups, with a trend for lower scores in the high dose group; administration of the second dose of buprenorphine further decreased the pain scores. Buprenorphine produced good preoperative sedation and the level of sedation decreased over time after surgery. Administration of the second high dose of buprenorphine did not increase the level of sedation. Both doses of buprenorphine prevented hyperalgesia at the wound and hock postoperatively. Three dogs given the low dose and one dog given the high dose required rescue analgesia with carprofen.     

Comparison of Intra-articular and Epidural Morphine for Analgesia Following Stifle Arthrotomy in Dogs

We prospectively studied 18 dogs that presented for exploratory stifle arthrotomy, with or without meniscectomy, and lateral extracapsular stabilization as a result of cranial cruciate ligament rupture. Dogs were premedicated with acepromazine, induced with thiopental, and maintained with halothane in oxygen. Preoperatively, dogs were assigned to one of three groups. Group 1 (n = 6) received intra-articular morphine (0.1 mg/kg diluted in 1 mL/10 kg body weight of saline) and epidural saline (1 mL/5 kg body weight saline plus the volume of saline representing 0.1 mg/kg of morphine). Group 2 (n = 6) received intra-articular saline (1 mL/10 kg body weight of saline plus the volume of saline representing 0.1 mg/kg of morphine) and epidural saline (1 mL/5 kg body weight saline plus the volume of saline representing 0.1 mg/kg of morphine). Group 3 (n = 6) received intra-articular saline (1 mL/10 kg body weight of saline plus the volume of saline representing 0.1 mg/kg of morphine) and epidural morphine (0.1 mg/kg of morphine diluted in 1 mL/5 kg body weight saline). The efficacy of each analgesia regimen was evaluated for 6 hours postoperatively with a pain score based on subjective and objective variables. Serum Cortisol and blood glucose concentrations were measured. Butorphanol was used to provide analgesia as needed based on a predetermined maximum pain score. Supplemental analgesics were required postoperatively every 2 to 3 hours for 6 hours in all dogs that did not initially receive analgesics (group 2). Pain scores were significantly lower in dogs administered morphine intra-articularly (group 1) and epidurally (group 3) at 30 minutes and 30, 120, and 360 minutes, respectively, compared with dogs that did not initially receive analgesics (group 2). One dog in group 1 and one dog in group 3 required supplemental analgesia with butorphanol. There was no difference between analgesia produced by intra-articular morphine compared with that of epidural morphine. Side effects after intra-articular or epidural morphine were not observed. Intra-articular administration of morphine can produce effective analgesia in dogs comparable with that produced by epidural administration of morphine.     

The Gastroduodenal Effects of Buffered Aspirin, Carprofen, and Etodolac in Healthy Dogs

Twenty-four healthy mixed-breed dogs were divided into 4 groups. Group 1 received a placebo p.o. q12h, group 2 received an average of 16.5 (15.1-17.8) mg/kg buffered aspirin p.o. q12h, group 3 received an average of 2.2 (2.0-2.4) mg/kg carprofen p.o. q12h, and group 4 received an average of 12.8 (11.7-13.8) mg/kg etodolac p.o. q24h (with a placebo in the PM). All treatments continued for 28 consecutive days. Gastroduodenal endoscopy was performed on days -9, 0, 5, 14, and 28. Multiple gastric biopsies were obtained endoscopically on day -9 to determine each dog's Helicobacter infection status. Four regions in the stomach and 1 region in the proximal duodenum were evaluated endoscopically, and each was assigned a score from 1 to 11. Scores for each region then were summed to give a total score for each endoscopic evaluation. Erosions and submucosal hemorrhages were seen in all dogs receiving aspirin. Only minor gastric lesions were observed in the carprofen, etodolac, and control groups. No adverse clinical signs were noted in any dog given any treatment. Median total score on days 0, 5, 14, and 28, respectively, were as follows: group 1: 5.0, 5.0, 5.0, 5.0; group 2: 5.0, 27.0, 26.0, 27.5; group 3: 5.0, 5.0, 6.0, 5.0, group 4: 5.0, 7.0, 5.0, 5.0. There was no significant difference among dogs receiving carprofen, etodolac, or placebo. The administration of carprofen, etodolac, or placebo to healthy dogs resulted in significantly less gastroduodenal lesion development than in dogs receiving buffered aspirin.     

Comparison of carprofen and pethidine as postoperative analgesics in the cat

The postoperative analgesia and sedation in cats given carprofen (4·0 mg/kg bodyweight by subcutaneous injection preoperatively) was compared to that in cats given pethidine (3·3 mg/kg bodyweight by intramuscular injection postoperatively) in a controlled, randomised, blinded, multicentre clinical trial. Further dosing with the particular analgesic was allowed if a cat was exhibiting unacceptable pain. In total, 57 carprofen cases and 59 pethidine cases were evaluated. Significantly fewer cats in the carprofen group required additional doses of analgesic, and mean pain scores were significantly lower from four hours after ovariohysterectomy, and at 18 to 24 hours after castration, compared to the pethidine group. In conclusion, carprofen provided as good a level of postoperative analgesia as pethidine, but of a longer duration (at least 24 hours) and was well tolerated. It thus provides an option for 'pre-emptive analgesia' in cats about to undergo surgery.     

Comparison of intraperitoneal ropivacaine and bupivacaine for postoperative analgesia in dogs undergoing ovariohysterectomy

Objective

To compare postoperative analgesia following either intraperitoneal (IP) ropivacaine or bupivacaine in dogs undergoing ovariohysterectomy (OVH) in the scope of multimodal analgesia.

Analgesic effects in dogs of carprofen and pethidine together compared with the effects of either drug alone

Thirty bitches undergoing routine neutering were used in an assessor-blinded trial of the postoperative analgesic effects of pethidine and carprofen administered either together or singly. The level of analgesia was assessed by visual analogue scale (VAS) scores for pain and sedation and by nociceptive mechanical threshold testing. The two drugs administered together, and carprofen alone, provided good postoperative analgesia as assessed by VAS scoring. Pethidine alone did not provide postoperative analgesia of sufficient duration.     

Gabapentin as an adjuvant for postoperative pain management in dogs undergoing mastectomy

This study aimed to evaluate the analgesic efficacy of gabapentin as an adjuvant for postoperative pain management in dogs. Twenty dogs undergoing mastectomy were randomized to receive perioperative oral placebo or gabapentin (10 mg/kg). All dogs were premedicated with intramuscular acepromazine (0.03 mg/kg) and morphine (0.3 mg/ kg). Anesthesia was induced with propofol (4 mg/kg) intravenously and maintained with isoflurane. Intravenous meloxicam (0.2 mg/kg) was administered preoperatively. Postoperative analgesia was evaluated for 72 hr. Rescue analgesia was provided with intramuscular morphine (0.5 mg/kg). Dogs in the Placebo group received significantly more morphine doses than the Gabapentin group (P=0.021), despite no significant differences in pain scores. Perioperative gabapentin reduced the postoperative morphine requirements in dogs after mastectomy.