EVALUATION OF ANALGESIA PROVIDED BY POSTOPERATIVE ADMINISTRATION OF BUTORPHANOL TO CATS UNDERGOING ONYCHECTOMY

Objective-To evaluate adequacy of analgesia provided by postoperative administration of butorphanol to cats undergoing onychectomy. Design-R andomized controlled trial. Animals-63 cats undergoing elective onyche ctomy. Procedure-Cats were randomly assigned to a treatment (n = 42) o r control group (21). Cats in the treat ment group were given butorpha nol parenterally immediately and 4 hours after surgery and orally for 2 days after surgery. Rectal temperature, heart rate, and respiratory rate were recorded and scores were assigned for temperament, recovery, sedation, analgesia, and lameness for the first 24 hours after surger y. Owners provided scores for appetite, personality, and lameness the first and second days after discharge from the hospital. Results-Heart rate, respiratory rate, rectal tempera ture, and temperament and seda tion scores were not significantly different between groups at any eva luation time. Recovery scores were Significantly better for butorphano l-treated than for control-group cats 10 minutes after extubation. Ana lgesia scores were significantly better for butorphanol-treated than f or control-group cats between 5 and 24 hours after surgery. Fewer buto rphanol-treated than control-group cats were lame at the time of disch arge from the hospital. The first day after discharge, owners reported that percentages of butorphanol-treated cats that ate normally, acted normally, and had only mild or no lameness were significantly higher than percentages of control-group cats that did. Significant differenc es between groups were not detected the second day after discharge. Cl inical Implications-Results suggest that for cats undergoing onychecto my, administration of butorphanol the day of surgery and the first ful l day after surgery provides effective analgesia and improves recovery , appetite, and gait.