Pain relief after tumor surgery in dogs: morphine vs tramadol

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Pain thresholds may differ between animal species. It may even vary among individuals of the same species. Therefore, assessing pain in animals is challenging. AIMS: The objective of the present study was to compare the analgesic effects of tramadol with morphine. METHODS: The study was carried out on randomly selected 20 dogs with tumors in different breeds and gender. After induction of anesthesia with propofol, dogs were intubated, and anesthesia was maintained with sevoflurane. Intravenous fentanyl citrate was used for intraoperative analgesia after stabilization of the anesthesia. When the tumors were surgically removed and the operation was completed, dogs were divided into two groups to give the postoperative analgesic agent. The first 10 dogs to be investigated were identified as the morphine group and the second 10 dogs as the tramadol group. Postoperative pain scores, heart rates, respiratory rates, and body temperatures were recorded at 0, 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, and 24 hours after the operation. RESULTS: Pain scores were lower in the morphine group than in the tramadol group during all postoperative processes. CONCLUSION: As a result, it was determined that tramadol has immediate analgesic effects than morphine; however, morphine provides better analgesia than tramadol.