title: A comparison of the sedative and analgesic properties of pethidine (meperidine) and butorphanol in dogs.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the analgesic and sedative effects of butorphanol and pethidine (meperidine) in dogs.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-eight female dogs undergoing ovariectomy (20) or ovariohysterectomy (8) were randomly divided into two groups. Pre-anaesthetic medication in group B consisted of 20 μg/kg intramuscular (im) acepromazine and 0·4 mg/kg butorphanol, while group P received 20 μg/kg acepromazine with 5 mg/kg pethidine. The resulting sedation (simple descriptive scale), propofol dose required to induce anaesthesia, several intraoperative cardiorespiratory variables and postoperative pain (Colorado Pain Scoring System) were compared between the two groups. A 0·2 mg/kg meloxicam dose was administered intravenously to all animals at the end of the 4 hours observation period, or earlier if the pain score was more than 13.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sedation scores, propofol induction doses and intraoperative cardiorespiratory variables were not different between groups. Postoperative pain scores were also similar although one dog in group B required rescue analgesia. Five dogs in group P vomited postoperatively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Either butorphanol and pethidine, combined with acepromazine, produced reliable sedation and analgesia up to 4 hours after intramuscular injection in dogs.
authors.affiliation: Dick White Referrals, Station Farm, Six Mile Bottom, Suffolk, UK.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Vettorato
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bacco
mesh_terms: D000759:Adjuvants, Anesthesia / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D002077:Butorphanol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004285:Dogs / Q000502:physiology*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination / Q000662:veterinary; D005260:Female; D007044:Hysterectomy / Q000662:veterinary; D007273:Injections, Intramuscular / Q000662:veterinary; D008614:Meperidine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010052:Ovariectomy / Q000662:veterinary; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000662:veterinary*; D011897:Random Allocation; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000759:Adjuvants, Anesthesia; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D008614:Meperidine; D002077:Butorphanol