Safety and efficacy of preoperative administration of meloxicam, compared with that of ketoprofen and butorphanol in dogs undergoing abdominal surgery

Objective-To compare the safety and efficacy of preoperative administration of meloxicam with that of ketoprofen and butorphanol in dogs undergoing ab dominal surgery. Animals-36 dogs undergoing laparotomy, splenectomy, or cystotomy. Procedure-Dogs were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 groups. In the first part o f the study, dogs were given a single dose of meloxicam, ketoprofen, or a p lacebo, and buccal mucosal bleeding times were measured. In the second part of the study, dogs were given meloxicam, ketoprofen, or butorphanol prior to surgery. Dogs in the butorphanol group received a second dose immediatel y after surgery. Pain scores (1 to 10) were assigned hourly for 20 hours af ter surgery and used to determine an overall efficacy score for each dog. D ogs with a pain score greater than or equal to 3 were given oxymorphone for pain. Dogs were euthanatized 8 days after surgery, and gross and histologi c examinations of the liver, kidneys, and gastrointestinal tract were condu cted. Results-Overall efficacy was rated as good or excellent in 9 of the 12 dogs that received meloxicam, compared with 9 of the 12 dogs that received keto profen and only 1 of the 12 dogs that received butorphanol. No clinically i mportant hematologic, biochemical, or pathologic abnormalities were detecte d. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance-Results suggest that preoperative admini stration of meloxicam is a safe and effective method of controlling postope rative pain for 20 hours in dogs undergoing abdominal surgery; the analgesi c effects of meloxicam were comparable to those of ketoprofen and superior to those of butorphanol.