Analgesic efficacy of preoperative administration of meloxicam or butorphanol in onychectomized cats.
OBJECTIVE
To determine analgesic efficacy and adverse effects of preemptive administration of meloxicam or butorphanol in cats undergoing onychectomy or onychectomy and neutering.


METHODS
Randomized controlled study.


METHODS
64 female and 74 male cats that were 4 to 192 months old and weighed 1.09 to 705 kg (2.4 to 15.5 lb).


METHODS
Cats received meloxicam (0.3 mg/kg [0.14 mg/lb], s.c.) or butorphanol (0.4 mg/kg [0.18 mg/lb], s.c.) 15 minutes after premedication and prior to anesthesia. A single blinded observer measured physiologic variables, assigned analgesia and lameness scores, and withdrew blood samples for each cat at baseline and throughout the 24 hours after surgery. Rescue analgesia (butorphanol, 0.4 mg/kg, i.v. or s.c.) or administration of acepromazine (0.025 to 0.05 mg/kg [0.011 to 0.023 mg/lb], i.v.) was allowed.


RESULTS
Meloxicam-treated cats were less lame and had lower pain scores. Cortisol concentration was higher at extubation and lower at 1, 5, and 12 hours in the meloxicam-treated cats. Fewer meloxicam-treated cats required rescue analgesia at 3, 5, 12, and 24 hours after extubation. General impression scores were excellent or good in 75% of meloxicam-treated cats and 44% of butorphanol-treated cats. There was no treatment effect on buccal bleeding time; PCV and BUN concentration decreased in both groups, and glucose concentration decreased in meloxicam-treated cats.


CONCLUSIONS
Preoperative administration of meloxicam improved analgesia for 24 hours without clinically relevant adverse effects in cats that underwent onychectomy or onychectomy and neutering and provided safe, extended analgesia, compared with butorphanol.
Carroll
Gwendolyn L
GL
Department of Small Animal Medicine and Surgery, College of Veterinary Medicine, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843-4474, USA.
Howe
Lisa B
LB
Peterson
Kurt D
KD
D018712:Analgesics, Non-Narcotic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D002077:Butorphanol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002415:Cats / Q000502:physiology* / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006724:Hoof and Claw / Q000601:surgery; D007044:Hysterectomy / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous / Q000662:veterinary; D008297:Male; D000077239:Meloxicam; D009919:Orchiectomy / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary; D010052:Ovariectomy / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000662:veterinary; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000662:veterinary*; D011300:Preoperative Care / Q000662:veterinary; D012119:Respiration / Q000187:drug effects; D013843:Thiazines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013844:Thiazoles / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D018712:Analgesics, Non-Narcotic; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D013843:Thiazines; D013844:Thiazoles; D002077:Butorphanol; D000077239:Meloxicam