Comparison of perioperative analgesic efficacy between methadone and butorphanol in cats

Abstract

Objective-To compare the perioperative analgesic effect between methadone and butor-phanol in cats. Design-Randomized controlled clinical trial. Animals-22 healthy female domestic cats. Procedures-Cats admitted for ovariohysterectomy were allocated to a butorphanol group (n = 10) or methadone group (12) and premedicated with butorphanol (0.4 mg/kg [0.18 mg/lb], SC) or methadone (0.6 mg/kg [0.27 mg/lb], SC), respectively, in combination with acepromazine (0.02 mg/kg [0.01 mg/lb], SC). Anesthesia was induced with propofol (IV) and maintained with isoflurane in oxygen. A multidimensional composite scale was used to conduct pain assessments prior to premedication and 5, 20, 60, 120, 180, 240, 30..