Objective

To find the dosage of epidural buprenorphine hydrochloride for relieving pain after fracture repair of hind limbs in dogs

Materials & Methods

Twenty eight dogs suffering from fractures of hind limbs were randomly divided into one control group receiving saline and three treatment groups receiving epidural buprenorphine 0.005, 0.01 and 0.015 mg/kg. Heart rate, respiratory rate and arterial blood pressures were measured to assess pain score and cardiopulmonary effects for eight postoperative hours. Blood gases were measured postoperatively at four and eight hours.

Result

Epidural buprenorphine 0.01 mg/kg gave pain scores lower less than those of other treatment groups at the early recovery period or 120 minutes after epidural administration with no significant cardiopulmonary effect.

Conclusion

Epidural buprenorphine hydrochloride 0.01 mg/kg can be used to relieve pain in dogs after fracture repair of hind limbs.