Utilizzo del Gabapentin nell’analgesia preventiva nel cane
Use of Gabapentin for preemptive analgesia in dogs
Authors
Vullo C.
DVM, PhD, Scuola di Scienze del Farmaco e dei Prodotti della Salute, Università di Camerino
Ragni F.
DVM, Scuola di Bioscienze e Medicina Veterinaria, Università di Camerino
Meligrana M.
DVM, Scuola di Bioscienze e Medicina Veterinaria, Università di Camerino
Summary
Several studies have been carried out to develop preemptive analgesic protocols able to control or cancel peri-operative pain in dogs. The aim of this study was to evaluate the analgesic effects of gabapentin in the treatment of postoperative pain in dogs, using two different pain scales. Sixteen animals were selected and divided into two groups: Group G (gabapentin group) and Group C (control group). Group G received 10 mg/kg of gabapentin orally 2 hours before surgery. All the patients were premedicated with 20 μg/kg of acepromazine and 0.2 mg/kg of methadone intravenously and were induced with 2 mg/kg intravenously of propofol to effect. Five minutes before surgery, 4 mg/kg of carprofen were administered intravenously. At different intervals of time and for 24 hours post-extubation, the degree of analgesia for each patient in both groups was monitored utilizing two pain scales: the Short Form of the Glasgow Composite Pain Scale and the Visual Analog Scale.
The results demonstrated that preoperative preventive use of gabapentin significantly reduced the postoperative pain scores assigned with the two scales and, consequently, the need for the administration of additional analgesic drugs.
Keywords
dog, preemptive analgesia, gabapentin, postoperative pain, pain scales
