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Once daily oral extended‐release hydrocodone as analgesia following tibial plateau leveling osteotomy in dogs
Author(s) -
Heffernan Ann E.,
Katz Erin M.,
Sun Yiwen,
Rendahl Aaron K.,
Conzemius Michael G.
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
veterinary surgery
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.652
H-Index - 79
eISSN - 1532-950X
pISSN - 0161-3499
DOI - 10.1111/vsu.12792
Subject(s) - medicine , hydrocodone , anesthesia , hydromorphone , surgery , opioid , oxycodone , receptor
Objective To determine the efficacy of oral extended‐release hydrocodone compared with oral firocoxib for analgesia following tibial plateau leveling osteotomy surgery in dogs in a hospital setting. Study design Prospective, randomized, blinded, clinical trial. Animals Thirty‐six client‐owned dogs weighing 25‐43 kg with unilateral hindlimb lameness and cranial cruciate ligament rupture. Methods Dogs were assigned to 1 of 2 groups (n = 18/group). Group 1 received hydrocodone 3 mg/kg orally every 24 hours, and group 2 received firocoxib 5 mg/kg orally every 24 hours. Both hydrocodone and firocoxib (according to group assignment) were provided as preemptive analgesia 10 hours before induction to anesthesia and then every 24 hours for the remainder of the study period The level of analgesia was compared between treatments on the basis of a modified Glasgow Composite Pain Score (mGCPS) in each dog, the number of dogs requiring rescue analgesia (hydromorphone 0.05 mg/kg subcutaneously), pressure platform stance data, and number of adverse events. Results Nine of 18 dogs that received hydrocodone and 2/18 dogs that received firocoxib had an mGCPS ≥6 ( P = .02). Two dogs had an mGCPS ≥6 three times, and 1 had an mGCPS ≥6 two times; all 3 of these dogs were in the hydrocodone group. Average postoperative peak pressure placed on the affected limb was lower in dogs that received hydrocodone ( P = .01). Regurgitation and decreased appetite were more common in the dogs that received hydrocodone. Conclusion Dogs that were treated with hydrocodone exhibited higher pain scores and lower limb function than dogs treated with firocoxib under the conditions of our study. Clinical significance Our results do not provide evidence to justify the administration of extended‐release hydrocodone at 3 mg/kg orally every 24 hours rather than firocoxib at 5 mg/kg orally every 24 hours in dogs undergoing tibial plateau leveling osteotomy.