title: A preliminary investigation comparing pre-operative morphine and buprenorphine for postoperative analgesia and sedation in cats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the postoperative analgesic and sedative properties of buprenorphine and morphine in cats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective, randomized, blinded study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-two domestic cats undergoing surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cats received pre-anaesthetic medication with acepromazine (0.05 mg kg-1) given intramuscularly and were randomly allocated to group M and given morphine (0.1 mg kg-1) intramuscularly (IM) or to group B and given buprenorphine (0.01 mg kg-1) IM. Anaesthesia was induced with propofol and maintained with halothane in oxygen and nitrous oxide. Pain and sedation scores using visual analogue scales, and heart and respiratory rates, were measured immediately before, and 30, 60, 120, 180, 300 and 420 minutes after anaesthesia.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Pain scores were significantly lower at 60, 120 and 180 minutes after anaesthesia in group B. Group B also had higher heart rates at 30 minutes. There were no other statistically significant differences between the groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Buprenorphine (0.01 mg kg-1) appeared to provide better postoperative analgesia than morphine (0.1 mg kg-1) and may also have a longer duration of action.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
authors.forename: G W
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: Stanway
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
authors.forename: D C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Brodbelt
keywords: buprenorphine; cats; morphine