Pain Control for Spay Surgery in Cats
September 8th, 2009 | Comments Off | Posted in analgesia, ovariohysterectomy, spay, tramadol, vedaprofen
Brondani JT, Loureiro Luna SP, Beier SL, Minto BW, Padovani CR. Analgesic efficacy of perioperative use of vedaprofen, tramadol or their combination in cats undergoing ovariohysterectomy. J Feline Med Surg 2009; 11: 420-9.Veterinarians now recognize that preventive pain control is beneficial for cats undergoing surgery, providing comfort and faster recoveries. One of the most common feline surgeries is the ovariohysterectomy or spay. The researchers investigated the efficacy of two drugs, tramadol and vedaprofen, in 40 female cats undergoing spay surgery. The cats were divided into four treatment groups: vedaprofen only, tramadol only, vedaprofen plus tramadol, and placebo. Medications were administered one hour before surgery and for 72 hours after surgery. Pain scores were evaluated at regular intervals for the first 96 hours and then on day 7 after surgery. Cats with high pain scores were given rescue analgesia with morphine. Cats treated with vedaprofen and tramadol together did not require rescue analgesia and proved to be the most effective option evaluated. Multimodal analgesia is known to be a superior method of pain control and proved effective for cats undergoing spay surgery. The researchers recommended that pain control should be provided for a minimum of three days after spay surgery. [SL]
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Related articles:
Slingsby L, Waterman-Pearson A. Postoperative analgesia in the cat after ovariohysterectomy by use of carprofen, ketoprofen, meloxicam or tolfenamic acid. J Small Anim Pract 2000; 41: 447-450.
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Tobias KM, Harvey RC, Byarlay JM. A comparison of four methods of analgesia in cats following ovariohysterectomy. Vet Anaesth Analg 2006; 33: 390-8.
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Pain Management for Special Feline Cases
Mathews, K. A. (2008). "Pain management for the pregnant, lactating, and neonatal to pediatric cat and dog." Vet Clin North Am Small Anim Pract 38(6): 1291-308, vi-vii.The majority of the information available to veterinarians on pain management for small animals is for the mature patient. Pregnant and lactating queens and neonates have received little attention or investigation. Unfortunately, this means that pain management is often avoided for these patients, due to concerns over adverse effects. The purpose of this review article is to focus on commonly available analgesics for these special patients. During pregnancy, opioids are the preferred analgesic for both women and animals. For example, opioids may be used to control pain associated with caesarean section with little or no effect on neonates. For lactating animals, opioids and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs may be used. Opioids are also often used for pediatric patients, while non-steroidal anti-inflammatories are avoided in animals under 6 weeks of age. The risks and benefits of each class of drug, as well as a table of drugs and dosages are included. Dissemination of such information will help provide pain relief to some of the most vulnerable patients in veterinary medicine. [SL]
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Related articles:
Dyson, D. H. (2008). "Perioperative Pain Management in Veterinary Patients." The Veterinary clinics of North America. Small animal practice 38(6): 1309-1327.
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Robertson, S. and P. Taylor (2004). "Pain management in cats - past, present and future. Part 2. Treatment of pain - clinical pharmacology." J Fel Med Surg 6(5): 321-333.
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More on cat health: Winn Feline Foundation Library
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Control of Postoperative Pain in Cats
October 28th, 2008 | Comments Off | Posted in analgesia, meloxicam, ovariohysterectomy, pain, tolfenamic acid
Benito-de-la-Vibora, J., B. D. Lascelles, et al. (2008). "Efficacy of tolfenamic acid and meloxicam in the control of postoperative pain following ovariohysterectomy in the cat." Vet Anaesth Analg.This prospective, randomized, blinded and placebo-controlled study was performed at the University of Madrid, Spain to evaluate the effect of two non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs (tolfenamic acid and meloxicam) on control of post-operative pain in cats. Sixty-nine client owned cats undergoing ovariohysterectomy were enrolled in the study. The cats were given a dose of either tolfenamic acid (Tolfedine, Vetoquinol), meloxicam (Metacam, Boehringer Ingelheim/Merial), or placebo pre-operatively and again post-operatively. Pain and wound sensitivity were assessed using standardized scales for up to 25 hours post-operatively. The meloxicam group was less painful than controls at 6 and 22 hours post-operatively; both treatment groups were less painful than controls at 25 hours. The number of cats requiring rescue analgesia did not differ between the groups. Cats receiving tolfenamic acid or meloxicam had decreased wound sensitivity compared to controls at all time points. The researchers conclude that both tolfenamic acid and meloxicam provide a similar analgesic effect for up to 24 hours post-operatively.
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Related articles:
Lascelles, B. D., M. H. Court, et al. (2007). "Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in cats: a review." Vet Anaesth Analg 34(4): 228-50.
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Slingsby, L. and A. Waterman-Pearson (2000). "Postoperative analgesia in the cat after ovariohysterectomy by use of carprofen, ketoprofen, meloxicam or tolfenamic acid." J Small Anim Pract 41(10): 447-450.
>> PubMed Abstract
More on cat health: Winn Feline Foundation Library
Lidocaine Patches for Cats
Ko, J. C. H., L. K. Maxwell, et al. (2008). "Pharmacokinetics of lidocaine following the application of 5% lidocaine patches to cats." Journal of Veterinary Pharmacology and Therapeutics 31(4): 359-367.The use of lidocaine patches to provide local analgesia in cats is increasing. The patch (Lidoderm, Endo Pharmaceuticals) contains 700 mg lidocaine and is 10 cm x 14 cm. It can be cut to a desired size and may be applied to the skin on each side of a surgical incision for post-operative pain relief. Other potential uses include relief of pain from trauma and bruising. This study was conducted to evaluate the systemic and local absorption of lidocaine from topical patches in cats. In a random cross-over design, 8 two-year old cats received either intravenous lidocaine at 2 mg/kg or one lidocaine patch placed on the lateral thorax for 72 hours. Plasma was collected at specified time points and analyzed for lidocaine and its major metabolite. After patch removal, the skin at the site was biopsied and also assayed for lidocaine. The patch produced steady-state lidocaine plasma concentrations. The bioavailability of transdermal lidocaine was 6.3 +/- 2.7% and only 56% of the total drug reached the systemic circulation. Skin lidocaine concentrations were much higher than plasma concentrations. Plasma lidocaine concentrations remained well below systemically toxic concentrations, and no obvious clinical side effects were observed in any of the cats. The researchers conclude that the low systemic absorption rate coupled with high local lidocaine concentrations in the skin support the safe use of lidocaine patches in cats.
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Related articles:
Weil, A. B., J. Ko, et al. (2007). "The use of lidocaine patches." Comp Contin Edu Pract Vet 29(4): 208-216.
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More on cat health: Winn Feline Foundation Library