EPIDURAL MORPHINE IN A CHEETAH (ACINONYX-JUBATUS) UNDERGOING TOTAL HIP-REPLACEMENT

To provide intraoperative and postoperative analgesia, morphine (0.1 m g/kg) was administered into the epidural space of a cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) that required a total hip replacement. The epidural administr ation was performed 45 min before surgery after the cheetah had been a nesthetized with a combination of tiletamine and zolazepam (Telazol(R) ) at a dosage of 2.5 mg/kg i.m. and isoflurane in oxygen. The cardiopu lmonary status of the cheetah was stable throughout the anesthetic per iod except for a short period of systemic hypertension during surgery and mild to moderate hypercapnia. There was no evidence of increased m otor activity or excitement attributable to the epidural morphine. The cheetah appeared quiet and showed normal behavior 3 hr after anesthes ia. Preoperative epidural administration of morphine appears to be a s uitable and safe technique for providing analgesia in cheetahs that re quire hind limb surgeries.