Animal Welfare Information Center Newsletter, Winter 1997/1998, Vol. 8, no. 3-4

Assessment and Alleviation of Post-Operative Pain

Table 1. Suggested dose rates for non-steroidal anti-imflammatory drugs. Note that considerable individual and strain variation in response may be encountered, and it is therefore essential to assess the analgesic effects in each animal. Abbreviations: im=intramuscular, iv=intravenous, po=per os (by mouth), sc=subcutaneously, ?=approximate duration.
Table 2. Suggested dose rates for non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in laboratory animals. Note that considerable individual and strain variation in response may be encountered, and that it is therefore essential to assess the analgesic effects in each individual animal.
Table 3. Suggested dose rates for opioid analgesics in common laboratory animals. Note that considerable individual and strain variation in response may be encountered, and that it is therefore essential to assess the analgesic effects in each individual animal.
Table 4. Suggested dose rates for opioid analgesics in other animals. Note that considerable individual and strain variation in response may be encountered, and it is therefore essential to assess the analgesic effects in each animal.

Paul Flecknell. "Assessment and Alleviation of Post-Operative Pain" Animal Welfare Information Center Newsletter, 8(3):8-14, Winter 1997/1998.

Drug Mouse Rat Guinea Pig Rabbit Ferret

Aspirin 120mg/kg
po 100 mg/kg
po 87 mg/kg
po 100 mg/kg
po 200 mg/kg
po

Carprofen 5 mg/kg
sc 1.5 mg/kg
po
twice daily

Diclofenac 8 mg/kg
po 10 mg/kg
po 2.1 mg/kg
po

Flunixin 2.5 mg/kg
sc, im
?12 hourly 2.5 mg/kg
sc, im
? 12 hourly 1.1 mg/kg
sc, im
? 12 hourly 0.5-2 mg/kg
sc
12-24 hourly

Ibuprofen 30 mg/kg
po 15 mg/kg
po 10 mg/kg
im
4 hourly 10 mg/kg
iv
4 hourly

Indomethacin 1 mg/kg
po 2 mg/kg
po 8 mg/kg
po 12.5 mg/kg
po

Ketoprofen 5 mg/kg
po 3 mg/kg
im

Paracetamol
(Acetominophen) 200 mg/kg
po 200 mg/kg
po

Piroxicam 3 mg/kg
po 3 mg/kg
po 6 mg/kg
po

Note that considerable individual and strain variation in response may be encountered, and it is therefore essential to assess the analgesic effects in each animal. Abbreviations: im=intramuscular, iv=intravenous, po=per os (by mouth) , sc=subcutaneously, ?=approximate duration.

Drug	Mouse	Rat	Guinea Pig	Rabbit	Ferret
Aspirin	120mg/kg po	100 mg/kg po	87 mg/kg po	100 mg/kg po	200 mg/kg po
Carprofen		5 mg/kg sc		1.5 mg/kg po twice daily
Diclofenac	8 mg/kg po	10 mg/kg po	2.1 mg/kg po
Flunixin	2.5 mg/kg sc, im ?12 hourly	2.5 mg/kg sc, im ? 12 hourly		1.1 mg/kg sc, im ? 12 hourly	0.5-2 mg/kg sc 12-24 hourly
Ibuprofen	30 mg/kg po	15 mg/kg po	10 mg/kg im 4 hourly	10 mg/kg iv 4 hourly
Indomethacin	1 mg/kg po	2 mg/kg po	8 mg/kg po	12.5 mg/kg po
Ketoprofen		5 mg/kg po		3 mg/kg im
Paracetamol (Acetominophen)	200 mg/kg po	200 mg/kg po
Piroxicam	3 mg/kg po	3 mg/kg po	6 mg/kg po
Note that considerable individual and strain variation in response may be encountered, and it is therefore essential to assess the analgesic effects in each animal. Abbreviations: im=intramuscular, iv=intravenous, po=per os (by mouth) , sc=subcutaneously, ?=approximate duration.

Drug Pig Sheep Primate Dog Cat

Aspirin 50-100 mg/kg
po
6-12 hourly 20 mg/kg
po
6-8 hourly 10-25 mg/kg
po
8 hourly 10-25 mg/kg
po
every 48 hours

Carprofen 2-4 mg/kg
iv or sc
once daily ? ? 4 mg/kg
iv or sc
once daily
1-2 mg/kg bid
po
for 7 days
4 mg/kg
iv or sc
every 24 hours

Flunixin 1-2 mg/kg
iv or sc
once daily 2 mg/kg
iv or sc
once daily 2-4 mg/kg
sc
once daily 1 mg/kg
iv or sc
12 hourly
1 mg/kg
po
for up to 3 days 1 mg/kg
sc
daily for up to 5 days

Ibuprofen 10 mg/kg
po
24 hourly

Ketoprofen 2 mg/kg
sc, iv, or im
once daily for up to 3 days
1 mg/kg
po
daily for 5 days 1 mg/kg
sc
once daily for up to 3 days
1 mg/kg
po
daily for 5 days

Paracetamol
(Acetominophen) 15 mg/kg
po
6-8 hourly Contraindicated

Piroxicam 300 µg/kg
every 48 hours

Note that considerable individual and strain variation in response may be encountered, and that it is therefore essential to assess the analgesic effects in each individual animal.

Drug	Pig	Sheep	Primate	Dog	Cat
Aspirin		50-100 mg/kg po 6-12 hourly	20 mg/kg po 6-8 hourly	10-25 mg/kg po 8 hourly	10-25 mg/kg po every 48 hours
Carprofen	2-4 mg/kg iv or sc once daily	?	?	4 mg/kg iv or sc once daily 1-2 mg/kg bid po for 7 days	4 mg/kg iv or sc every 24 hours
Flunixin	1-2 mg/kg iv or sc once daily	2 mg/kg iv or sc once daily	2-4 mg/kg sc once daily	1 mg/kg iv or sc 12 hourly 1 mg/kg po for up to 3 days	1 mg/kg sc daily for up to 5 days
Ibuprofen				10 mg/kg po 24 hourly
Ketoprofen				2 mg/kg sc, iv, or im once daily for up to 3 days 1 mg/kg po daily for 5 days	1 mg/kg sc once daily for up to 3 days 1 mg/kg po daily for 5 days
Paracetamol (Acetominophen)				15 mg/kg po 6-8 hourly	Contraindicated
Piroxicam				300 µg/kg every 48 hours
Note that considerable individual and strain variation in response may be encountered, and that it is therefore essential to assess the analgesic effects in each individual animal.

Drug Mouse Rat Guinea Pig Rabbit Ferret

Buprenorphine 0.05-0.1 mg/kg
sc
12 hourly 0.01-0.05 mg/kg
sc, iv
8-12 hourly
0.1-0.25 mg/kg
po
8-12 hourly 0.05 mg/kg
sc
8-12 hourly 0.01-0.05 mg/kg
sc, iv
8-12 hourly 0.01-0.03 mg/kg
iv, im, sc
8-12 hourly

Butorphanol 1-5 mg/kg
sc
4 hourly 2 mg/kg
4 hourly 0.1-0.5 mg/kg
iv
4 hourly 0.4 mg/kg
im
4-6 hourly

Morphine 2.5 mg/kg
sc
2-4 hourly 2.5 mg/kg
sc
2-4 hourly 2-5 mg/kg
sc, im
4 hourly 2-5 mg/kg
sc, im
2-4 hourly 0.5-5 mg/kg
sc, im
6 hourly

Nalbuphine 4-8 mg/kg
im
? 4 hourly 1-2 mg/kg
im
3 hourly 1-2 mg/kg
iv, im, ip
1-2 mg/kg
iv
4-5 hourly

Pentazocine 10 mg/kg
sc
3-4 hourly 10 mg/kg
sc
3-4 hourly 5-10 mg/kg
sc, im, iv
4 hourly

Pethidine
(Meperidine) 10-20 mg/kg
sc or im
2-3 hourly 10-20 mg/kg
sc, im
2-3 hourly 10-20 mg/kg
sc, im
2-3 hourly 10-20 mg/kg
sc, im
2-3 hourly 5-10 mg/kg
sc, im
2-4 hourly

Note that considerable individual and strain variation in response may be encountered, and that it is therefore essential to assess the analgesic effects in each individual animal.

Drug	Mouse	Rat	Guinea Pig	Rabbit	Ferret
Buprenorphine	0.05-0.1 mg/kg sc 12 hourly	0.01-0.05 mg/kg sc, iv 8-12 hourly 0.1-0.25 mg/kg po 8-12 hourly	0.05 mg/kg sc 8-12 hourly	0.01-0.05 mg/kg sc, iv 8-12 hourly	0.01-0.03 mg/kg iv, im, sc 8-12 hourly
Butorphanol	1-5 mg/kg sc 4 hourly	2 mg/kg 4 hourly		0.1-0.5 mg/kg iv 4 hourly	0.4 mg/kg im 4-6 hourly
Morphine	2.5 mg/kg sc 2-4 hourly	2.5 mg/kg sc 2-4 hourly	2-5 mg/kg sc, im 4 hourly	2-5 mg/kg sc, im 2-4 hourly	0.5-5 mg/kg sc, im 6 hourly
Nalbuphine	4-8 mg/kg im ? 4 hourly	1-2 mg/kg im 3 hourly	1-2 mg/kg iv, im, ip	1-2 mg/kg iv 4-5 hourly
Pentazocine	10 mg/kg sc 3-4 hourly	10 mg/kg sc 3-4 hourly		5-10 mg/kg sc, im, iv 4 hourly
Pethidine (Meperidine)	10-20 mg/kg sc or im 2-3 hourly	10-20 mg/kg sc, im 2-3 hourly	10-20 mg/kg sc, im 2-3 hourly	10-20 mg/kg sc, im 2-3 hourly	5-10 mg/kg sc, im 2-4 hourly
Note that considerable individual and strain variation in response may be encountered, and that it is therefore essential to assess the analgesic effects in each individual animal.

Drug Pig Sheep Primate Dog Cat

Buprenorphine 0.005-0.02 mg/kg
im, iv
6-12 hourly 0.005-0.01 mg/kg
im, iv
4 hourly 0.005-0.01 mg/kg
im, iv
6-12 hourly 0.005-0.02 mg/kg
im, iv, sc
6-12 hourly 0.005-0.01 mg/kg
iv, sc
8-12 hourly

Butorphanol 0.01 mg/kg
iv
?3-4 hourly 0.2-0.4 mg/kg
im, sc
3-4 hourly 0.4 mg/kg
sc
3-4 hourly

Morphine 0.2-1 mg/kg
im
?4 hourly 0.2-0.5 mg/kg
im
?4 hourly 1-2 mg/kg
im, sc
4 hourly 0.5-5 mg/kg
im, sc
4 hourly 0.1 mg/kg
sc
4 hourly

Nalbuphine 0.5-2.0 mg/kg
im, sc
3-4 hourly 1.5-3.0 mg/kg
iv
3 hourly

Oxymorphone 0.05-0.22 mg/kg
im, iv, sc
2-4 hourly 0.2 mg/kg
iv, sc

Pentazocine 2 mg/kg
im, iv
4 hourly 2-5 mg/kg
im, iv
4 hourly 2 mg/kg
im, iv
4 hourly

Petidine
(Meperidine) 2 mg/kg
im, iv
2-4 hourly 2 mg/kg
im, iv
2-4 hourly 2-4 mg/kg
im, iv
2-4 hourly 10 mg/kg
im
2-3 hourly 2-10 mg/kg
im, sc
2-3 hourly

Note that considerable individual and strain variation in response may be encountered, and it is therefore essential to assess the analgesic effects in each animal.

Drug	Pig	Sheep	Primate	Dog	Cat
Buprenorphine	0.005-0.02 mg/kg im, iv 6-12 hourly	0.005-0.01 mg/kg im, iv 4 hourly	0.005-0.01 mg/kg im, iv 6-12 hourly	0.005-0.02 mg/kg im, iv, sc 6-12 hourly	0.005-0.01 mg/kg iv, sc 8-12 hourly
Butorphanol			0.01 mg/kg iv ?3-4 hourly	0.2-0.4 mg/kg im, sc 3-4 hourly	0.4 mg/kg sc 3-4 hourly
Morphine	0.2-1 mg/kg im ?4 hourly	0.2-0.5 mg/kg im ?4 hourly	1-2 mg/kg im, sc 4 hourly	0.5-5 mg/kg im, sc 4 hourly	0.1 mg/kg sc 4 hourly
Nalbuphine				0.5-2.0 mg/kg im, sc 3-4 hourly	1.5-3.0 mg/kg iv 3 hourly
Oxymorphone				0.05-0.22 mg/kg im, iv, sc 2-4 hourly	0.2 mg/kg iv, sc
Pentazocine	2 mg/kg im, iv 4 hourly		2-5 mg/kg im, iv 4 hourly	2 mg/kg im, iv 4 hourly
Petidine (Meperidine)	2 mg/kg im, iv 2-4 hourly	2 mg/kg im, iv 2-4 hourly	2-4 mg/kg im, iv 2-4 hourly	10 mg/kg im 2-3 hourly	2-10 mg/kg im, sc 2-3 hourly
Note that considerable individual and strain variation in response may be encountered, and it is therefore essential to assess the analgesic effects in each animal.

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