title: Acupuncture and pharmacopuncture are as effective as morphine or carprofen for postoperative analgesia in bitches undergoing ovariohysterectomy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the analgesic effect of acupuncture (AP) or micro-dose pharmacopuncture (PA), using carprofen or morphine, in bitches undergoing ovariohysterectomy (OHE).
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty five dogs were randomly assigned to five groups after sedation with acepromazine IM: AP, 0.5 mg.kg(-1) of morphine subcutaneously (SC), 4 mg.kg(-1) of carprofen SC, and PA with 0.05 mg.kg(-1) of morphine or 0.4 mg.kg(-1) of carprofen. Anaesthesia was induced with propofol and maintained with isoflurane. Pain was assessed after OHE by a blind observer for 24h, by dynamic visual analogue scale (DIVAS), Glasgow (CMPS-SF), Melbourne (UMPS) and Colorado University pain scale (CSU). Animals reaching 33% of the UMPS score received rescue analgesia with morphine IM. Non parametric data were analysed by Kruskal-Wallis or Friedman tests where applicable, followed by Dunn's test. Parametric data were analysed by two way ANOVA, followed by Tukey test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were no differences among groups in number of rescue analgesia. Except for the DIVAS score where animals treated with morphine had the lowest score compared with AP and carprofen, at 1h after surgery, there were no other differences among groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Acupuncture or pharmacopuncture were equally effective as morphine or carprofen to control postoperative pain in bitches undergoing ovariohysterectomy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Surgery and Anesthesiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, Universidade Estadual Paulista, Botucatu, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Stelio Pacca Loureiro
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Luna
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Science, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Naples "Federico II", Italy.
authors.forename: Irene Di
authors.initials: ID
authors.lastname: Martino
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Garanhuns, PE, Brazil.
authors.forename: Silvia Elaine Rodolfo de Sá
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Lorena
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Bioética, Botucatu, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Maria Luisa Buffo de
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Capua
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Surgery and Anesthesiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, UNESP, Botucatu, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Alfredo Feio da Maia
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Lima
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Surgery and Anesthesiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, UNESP, Botucatu, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Bianca Paiva Costa Rodrigues dos
authors.initials: BP
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Surgery and Anesthesiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, UNESP, Botucatu, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Juliana Tabarelli
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Brondani
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Science, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Naples "Federico II", Italy.
authors.forename: Giancarlo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Vesce
mesh_terms: D015667:Acupuncture Analgesia / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D015669:Acupuncture Points; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000818:Animals; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002227:Carbazoles / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D007044:Hysterectomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000662:veterinary*; D009020:Morphine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010052:Ovariectomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000662:veterinary*; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000662:veterinary; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000628:therapy / Q000662:veterinary*; D011446:Prospective Studies
chemical_list: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D002227:Carbazoles; D009020:Morphine; C007005:carprofen