Comparative analysis of butorphanol or buprenorphine in combination with dexmedetomidine-ketamine for pre-emptive analgesia in cats

The study evaluated the preemptive analgesia using butorphanol or buprenorphine in combination with dexmedetomidine and ketamine in 23 domesticated cats undergoing various surgical procedures. The cats were randomly assigned to groups receiving buprenorphine at different doses i.e., @ 20 mcg/kg body wt. for group DKBUP20, @ 30 mcg/kg body wt. for group DKBUP30 or butorphanol @ 0.2 mg/kg body wt. for group DKBUT, combined with dexmedetomidine @ 22.2 mcg/kg body wt. and ketamine @ 4.4 mg/kg body wt. Preoperative measures ensured health status, and postoperative pain assessments were done using the University of Melbourne Pain Scale for felines. Results indicated similar pre-emptive analgesic effects across groups, with the DKBUP30 combination showing slightly prolonged postoperative analgesia up to 24 hr. The study underscored the advantages of combining buprenorphine and butorphanol with dexmedetomidine and ketamine for feline anaesthesia for effective pain relief and safety. This pre-emptive analgesia holds promise for optimal pain control and smooth recovery in feline patients undergoing diverse surgical procedures.