Evaluation of buprenorphine and tramadol as pre-emptive analgesics following ovariohysterectomy in female dogs

Ovariohysterectomy from right flank region, was performed under atropine, diazepam and propofol general anaesthesia on twelve healthy female dogs randomly divided into two groups of six animals each. In one group tramadol was administered and in another group buprenorphine was administered 30 minute prior to atropine sulphate. Tramadol was repeated after every six hours and buprenorphine was repeated after every twelve hours up to second postoperative day. Postoperative pain assessment (0–20 multifactorial numerical rating scale) was made and clinico-biochemicohematological parameters were measured at preoperative, immediate post-recovery and 8, 24 and 48 hours postoperative stages. Mean total pain score at immediate post-recovery stage was slightly lower in tramadol than the buprenorphine group. As compared to tramadol group, plasma glucose concentration (at immediate post-recovery stage), neutrophil count (at 48 hours postoperative stage) and respiration rate (at immediate post-recovery stage) were significantly higher (P<0.05) and heart rate (at eight hours postoperative stage) was significantly lower (P<0.05) in buprenorphine group.