Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Fentanyl patch for pain relief in dogs after spinal surgery
By Bellei, E et al.·Published in Journal of veterinary pharmacology and therapeutics·2011·Veterinary Clinical Department, Italy·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: The use of fentanyl-patch in dogs undergoing spinal surgery: plasma concentration and analgesic efficacy.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of dogs undergoing spinal surgery received a fentanyl patch to help manage pain after their procedure. The patch was applied right before they woke up and stayed on for three days. Blood tests showed that the fentanyl reached effective levels to relieve pain, and the dogs generally did not experience significant discomfort afterward. The study found no side effects from the patch, suggesting it can be a helpful option for pain relief in pets recovering from major surgeries.
People also search for: dog spinal surgery pain management · fentanyl patch for dogs · post-surgery pain relief for dogs
Abstract
Objectives of this study were to evaluate plasma concentrations and analgesic efficacy of fentanyl administered transdermically in dogs undergoing spinal surgery. At the end of the surgery and before awakening, a fentanyl-patch was applied and was maintained in situ for 72 h. Blood samples were taken before the application of the patch, at 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 18, 24, 32, 40, 48, 60, and 72 h after application and then 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12 h after its removal. Before each blood sampling, pain evaluation was carried out using the Glasgow pain score, appropriately modified. Plasma concentrations of fentanyl were determined using a specific immuno-enzymatic kit. In this study, the minimum analgesic plasma concentration (0.23 ng/mL) required to achieve analgesia in human and considered to apply also for dogs was reached in all animals. No animal showed pain in the range of 'intense pain'; in two cases, the level of the pain was slight or moderate. No undesired effects were found. Results suggest that the use of transdermic patches could represent a valid aid in pain therapy in small animals; in particular, it contributes to the postoperative well-being of patients undergoing major surgery.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21323929/