Comparison of perioperative analgesia with meloxicam and ketoprofen for elective ovariohysterectomy in female dogs

The study was conducted in 12 female dogs divided in two groups for assessment of analgesia using meloxicam or ketoprofen along with atropine-dexmedetomidine-butorphanol-midazolam as premedicants to ketamine anaesthesia in elective ovariohysterectomy. The analgesics were started preoperatively and repeated daily up to 48 hr postoperatively. The pain assessment was made by adopting “The University of Melbourne Pain Scale” (UMPS) preoperatively and at 2, 6, 12, 24, 48, and 72 hr postoperatively. In both groups, the pain score values increased markedly up to 24 hr, then gradually decreased towards the baseline. The values in both groups were significantly (P 0.05) at any time interval. Both meloxicam and ketoprofen provided satisfactory and equivalent analgesia following ovariohysterectomy in dogs.