title: A comparison of four methods of analgesia in cats following ovariohysterectomy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effectiveness of preoperative administration of oral carprofen, subcutaneous ketoprofen, and local nerve block with bupivacaine in preventing postoperative pain-associated behavior in cats after ovariohysterectomy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-two female intact cats. Materials and methods Cats received butorphanol (0.44 mg kg(-1) IM), carprofen (2.2 mg kg(-1) PO), ketoprofen (2.2 mg kg(-1) SQ), or bupivacaine infiltration block (1.1 mg kg(-1) SQ) before surgery. Cortisol and drug concentrations and visual analog scale (VAS) and interactive visual analog scale (IVAS) pain-associated behavior scores were measured 2 hours before and 0, 1, 2, 4, 8, 12, and 24 hours after ovariohysterectomy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Cats receiving butorphanol had significantly increased IVAS scores 2 hours after surgery compared with baseline measurements. Cats receiving carprofen, ketoprofen, and bupivacaine had significant increases from baseline in VAS and IVAS scores 1 and 2 hours after surgery. VAS and IVAS scores for cats receiving bupivacaine were significantly greater 1 and 2 hours after surgery than for cats that received butorphanol. Cats receiving carprofen had significant increases in cortisol 1 hour after surgery and significant decreases 24 hours after surgery compared with baseline measurements.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Preoperative carprofen and ketoprofen have effects on pain-associated behavior similar to butorphanol in cats undergoing ovariohysterectomy. Cats receiving bupivacaine blocks may require additional analgesics immediately after surgery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, USA.
authors.forename: Karen M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Tobias
authors.forename: Ralph C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Harvey
authors.forename: Judy M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Byarlay
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000779:Anesthetics, Local / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000818:Animals; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002045:Bupivacaine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002227:Carbazoles / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002415:Cats / Q000502:physiology* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D007044:Hysterectomy / Q000662:veterinary; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous / Q000662:veterinary; D007660:Ketoprofen / Q000008:administration & dosage; D009407:Nerve Block / Q000662:veterinary; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000662:veterinary; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000662:veterinary*; D011300:Preoperative Care / Q000662:veterinary; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000779:Anesthetics, Local; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D002227:Carbazoles; D007660:Ketoprofen; C007005:carprofen; D002045:Bupivacaine