Evaluation of preemptive dexketoprofen trometamol effect on blood chemistry, vital signs and postoperative pain in dogs undergoing ovariohysterectomy.

Objective: To investigate the postoperative analgesic effects of preemptive dexketoprofen trometamol in dogs subjected to ovariohysterectomy (OHE).

Material And Methods: Seventeen adult bitches of various breeds were used in this study. The dogs were randomly allocated into of two groups. Subjects in the dexketoprofen trometamol (DEX) group (n=10), received intravenous (i.v.) dexketoprofen trometamol, 1 mg/kg, 15 minutes before premedication, while those assigned to the control (C) group (n=7) were given no analgesics prior to premedication. Pain level was assessed by two researchers before the administration of anaesthesia (15 minutes before start) and 0, 1, 2, 4 and 6 hours after surgery. A modified University of Melbourne Pain Scale (UMPS) was used to evaluate pain in both groups.

Results: Serum cortisol level changed from 0 to 1 h and from 0 to 1 to 4 h were compared between the groups; the increase in the C group was statistically significant. The modified UMPS was applied to both groups at baseline and postoperative 1, 2, 4 and 6 h. According to this test, the values for DEX were significantly lower than controls at 4 and 6 h (p<0.001).

Conclusion: Stable vital signs with unchanged biochemical parameters on dexketoprofen administration are a promising finding. The clinical advantage shown by the pain scale difference and the low serum cortisol levels should qualify dexketoprofen for preemptive pain management in dogs (Tab. 5, Fig. 2, Ref. 30).