Comparison of carprofen and pethidine as postoperative analgesics in the cat |
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| Authors: | T V Balmer D Irvine R S Jones † M J Roberts † L Sungsby ‡ P M Taylor A E Waterman ‡ C Waters § |
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| Institution: | Grampian Pharmaceuticals, Marathon Place. Moss Side Industrial Estate, Leyland PR5 3QN;*Veterinary Informatics and Epidemiology, Glasgow University Veterinary School, Bearsden Road, Glasgow G61 1QH;?University Department of Anaesthesia, University Clinical Department. University of Liverpool, The Duncan Building, Daulby Street, Liverpool L69 3GA;?Department of Clinical Veterinary Science, Division of Companion Animals, University of Bristol, Langford House, Langford, Bristol BS18 7DU;§Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Madingley Road, Cambridge CB3 OES |
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| Abstract: | 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. |
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