Evaluation of the perioperative analgesic efficacy of buprenorphine, compared with butorphanol, in cats

Abstract

Objective-To compare the analgesic effects of buprenorphine and butorphanol in domestic cats. Design-2-phase positive-controlled randomized masked clinical trial. Animals-39 healthy female cats (10 in phase 1 and 29 in phase 2). Procedures-Cats admitted for ovariohysterectomy received buprenorphine (4 in phase 1; 14 in phase 2) or butorphanol (6 in phase 1; 15 in phase 2). In phase 1, cats were premedicated with buprenorphine (0.02 mg/kg [0.009 mg/lb], IM) or butorphanol (0.4 mg/kg [0.18 mg/lb], IM), in combination with medetomidine. Anesthesia was induced with propofol (IV) and maintained with isoflurane in oxygen. After extubation, medetomidine was antagonized with atipamezole. A validated..