CLINICAL EVALUATION OF EPIDURAL ADMINISTRATION OF MORPHINE, FENTANYL, METHADONE, LIDOCAINE AND LIDOCAINE WITH EPINEPHRINE IN CATTLE

A. Tabatabaei Naeine, A. Rezakhani and J. Fazlinia

Department of Clinical Studies, School of Veterinary Medicine, Shiraz University, P.O. Box 1731, Shiraz 71345, Iran

Abstract

    The purpose of this study was to determine the analgesic efficacy and clinical effects of morphine, fentanyl, methadone, lidocaine, lidocaine with epinephrine and saline (control) when injected epidurally into the caudal epidural space in cattle. Epidural analgesia was achieved in five cattle on five successive occasions at weekly intervals. Analgesia was defined as a lack of response to hemostat pressure and pinprick in the skin of the perineal area and ventral aspect of the tail. The results demonstrated that while epidural lidocaine and lidocaine with epinephrine decreased the response to hemostat and pinprick compared to control, there was no reduction in response after the administration of morphine, methadone or fentanyl. Heart rate, pulse and respiratory rates were not significantly altered by any of the drugs. Neither did the drugs produce any change in the electrocardiogram (ECG) of the animals.