Bromelain does not provide significant analgesic and anti-inflammatory benefits over placebo in cats undergoing ovariohysterectomy.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of bromelain to control pain and inflammation in cats undergoing ovariohysterectomy.

Animals: 30 client-owned cats undergoing ovariohysterectomy.

Procedures: In a randomized, blinded clinical study, cats were assigned to receive either oral bromelain suspension (40 mg/kg [18 mg/lb]; BG, n = 15) or placebo solution (0.1 mL/kg [0.045 mL/lb]; PG, 15), which were administered 90 minutes before and 12 hours after surgery. The anesthetic protocol included acepromazine, meperidine, propofol, and isoflurane. Pain and sedation were assessed at various time points up to 24 hours post-extubation using the UNESP-Botucatu multidimensional composite pain scale, the Glasgow feline composite measure pain scale, and a descriptive numerical scale. Surgical wound inflammation was measured at the same time points, using a numeric rating scale. Morphine was administered as rescue analgesia. Laboratory data (urea, creatinine, gamma-glutamyl transferase, alkaline phosphatase, the prothrombin time, and the fecal occult blood) were analyzed preoperatively and 24 hours after surgery.

Results: Pain/inflammation scores, and analgesic requirements did not differ between groups. Shorter recovery time and lower sedation scores were recorded during the first hour post-extubation in the BG than the PG. Postoperatively, serum creatinine and gamma-glutamyl transferase were lower in the BG compared to PG. Compared to baseline values, all biochemistry variables decreased at 24 hours in the BG. The prothrombin time and fecal occult blood did not differ between groups or over time.

Clinical Relevance: Bromelain did not provide significant analgesic and anti-inflammatory benefits over placebo in cats undergoing ovariohysterectomy.