Postoperative pain control in cats: clinical trials with medetomidine and butorphanol.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the analgesic effects of medetomidine (MED) and butorphanol (BTO) in cats after ovariohysterectomy.


METHODS
A placebo-controlled, blinded monocenter clinical study.


METHODS
Healthy adult female client-owned cats.


METHODS
Sixty-four cats weighing 3.15 +/- 0.6 kg, presented to the University of Helsinki's Small Animal Teaching Hospital for routine elective ovariohysterectomy, received MED at 15 microg/kg (n = 18), BTO at 0.1 mg/kg (n = 23), or saline (PL) (n = 23) intramuscularly immediately after ovariohysterectomy. Level of pain perception, degree of restlessness, and extent of sedation were scored subjectively before and at 30, 60, 90, and 120 minutes after test-drug administration.


RESULTS
BTO provided the best pain relief, followed by MED. Saline provided the least pain relief. Both MED and BTO effectively and identically prevented postoperative restlessness. MED and BTO produced an identical degree of sedation that was better than the PL.


CONCLUSIONS
Both MED (at 15 microg/kg) and BTO (at 0.1 mg/kg) prevent postoperative pain in cats after ovariohysterectomy. Clinical Relevance-MED and BTO are useful for preventing postoperative pain in cats.
Ansah
Osei B
OB
Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Clinical Sciences, University of Helsinki, Finland.
Vainio
Outi
O
Hellsten
Carmela
C
Raekallio
Marja
M
D018712:Analgesics, Non-Narcotic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000818:Animals; D002077:Butorphanol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002415:Cats / Q000502:physiology* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D007044:Hysterectomy / Q000662:veterinary*; D007273:Injections, Intramuscular / Q000662:veterinary; D020926:Medetomidine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000662:veterinary; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D013997:Time Factors
D018712:Analgesics, Non-Narcotic; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D020926:Medetomidine; D002077:Butorphanol