Correlation of Blood Hemoglobin Values with Non-Invasive Co-Oximetry Measurement of SpHb in Dogs Undergoing Elective Ovariohysterectomy.

Cardiovascular function monitoring has been suggested as a key parameter to determine patient stability during the anesthetic process. However, the use of pulse co-oximetry has been suggested as a technology to complement the monitoring of this system as a direct way to assess hemoglobin (Hb) blood concentration. Therefore, this study aimed to correlate and determine the measurement bias between Hb blood levels with continuously determined blood hemoglobin concentration (SpHb) and arterial oxygen content values (SpOC), both obtained by noninvasive co-oximetry in dogs undergoing elective ovariohysterectomy (OVH). A total of 85 clinically healthy bitches of different breeds that were admitted for elective OVH surgery were evaluated. These animals underwent SpHb and SpOC capture after the in vivo setting for the duration of the surgical procedure. Likewise, five minutes before the end of the surgical procedure, a blood sample was obtained directly from the jugular vein to determine the blood concentration of Hb (HbLAB). The Bland-Altman analysis showed 95% limits of agreement from -4.22 to 4.99 g/dL with a BIAS (mean difference) of 0.384 ± 2.35 g/dL (r = 0.401). SpHb recordings were correlated with oxygen saturation (SpO2) (r = 0.995), SpOC (r = 0.992) and with perfusion index (PI) (r = 0.418). Therefore, SpHb presents a moderate positive correlation with direct blood concentration of Hb. This possibly shows that continuous measurement of SpHb by noninvasive co-oximetry is a reliable and advanced alternative for monitoring Hb concentration in dogs under anesthesia.

Clinical pharmacology of tramadol and tapentadol, and their therapeutic efficacy in different models of acute and chronic pain in dogs and cats.

Opioids are considered the gold standard to manage acute or chronic or mild to severe pain. Tramadol is a widely prescribed analgesic drug for dogs and cats; it has a synthetic partial agonism on µ-opioid receptors and inhibits the reuptake of norepinephrine and serotonin. However, the biotransformation and resultant metabolites differ between species and depend on cytochrome P450 interactions. Dogs mainly produce the inactive N-desmethyl tramadol metabolite, whereas cats exhibit an improved antinociceptive effect owing to rapid active O-desmethyltramadol metabolite production and a longer elimination half-life. Tapentadol, a novel opioid with dual action on µ-receptors and noradrenaline reuptake inhibitory activity, is a promising option in dogs, as it is less reliant on metabolic activation and is unaffected by cytochrome polymorphisms. Although scientific evidence on the analgesic activity of tapentadol in both species remains limited, experimental studies indicate potential benefits in animals. This review summarizes and compares the pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, and therapeutic efficacy of tramadol and tapentadol in dogs and cats with different pain conditions. According to the available data, tramadol seems a more suitable therapeutic option for cats and should preferably be used as a component of multimodal analgesia in both species, particularly dogs. Tapentadol might possess a superior analgesic profile in small animals, but additional studies are required to comprehensively evaluate the activity of this opioid to manage pain in dogs and cats.

Clinical evaluation of postoperative analgesia, cardiorespiratory parameters and changes in liver and renal function tests of paracetamol compared to meloxicam and carprofen in dogs undergoing ovariohysterectomy.

BACKGROUND: In veterinary medicine, the administration of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory analgesics (NSAIDs) for the control of postsurgical pain in dogs and cats is common given the anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and antipyretic effects of these drugs. This study compared the serum biochemical changes and postoperative analgesic effects of paracetamol, meloxicam, and carprofen in bitches submitted to an ovariohysterectomy using the Dynamic Interactive Visual Analog Scale (DIVAS) and Pain Scale of the University of Melbourne (UMPS) scoring systems. METHODS: Thirty bitches of different breeds underwent elective ovariohysterectomies and were randomly assigned to one of three treatment groups: a paracetamol group [15 mg kg-1 intravenous (IV)], a carprofen group (4 mg kg-1 IV), and a meloxicam group (0.2 mg kg-1 IV). All treatments were administered 30 minutes prior to surgery. Paracetamol was administered every 8 hours postoperatively for 48 hours total, while carprofen and meloxicam were intravenously administered every 24 hours. An evaluation of post-surgical pain was done with the DIVAS and the UMPS. The first post-surgical pain measurement was performed 1 hour after surgery and then 2, 4, 6, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 36, and 48 hours after surgery. RESULTS: All groups exhibited a gradual reduction in pain throughout the postoperative period in both scales; however, neither scale significantly differed between the three treatment groups (P > 0.05) during the 48 postoperative hours. CONCLUSIONS: Paracetamol was as effective as meloxicam and carprofen for post-surgical analgesia in bitches subjected to elective ovariohysterectomy. The present study demonstrates that paracetamol may be considered a tool for the effective treatment of acute perioperative pain in dogs. Furthermore, this drug led to no adverse reactions or changes in the parameters assessed in the present study, indicating its safety.