Background: Ultrasound-guided quadratus lumborum block (QLB) and sacrococcygeal epidural anaesthesia (ScE) have been used for neutering cats, providing effective pain relief. Objectives: To compare the effects of the QLB with those of ScE in cats undergoing ovariectomies. Methods: Feral cats undergoing ovariectomy were premedicated with dexmedetomidine (20 μg kg⁻¹) and methadone (0.2 mg kg⁻¹) intramuscularly. Anaesthesia was induced with 2–4 mg kg⁻¹ of propofol intravenously and maintained with isoflurane in oxygen. The cats were randomly allocated to the groups QLB (bilateral QLB with 0.4 mL kg⁻¹ of 0.25% bupivacaine) and ScE (0.3 mL kg⁻¹ of 0.25% bupivacaine). Hemodynamic data and analgesia rescue were collected at four intraoperative periods. The pain scale and motor block were assessed in both groups during the postoperative period. Results: The ScE results in increased hypotension, prolonged extubation time, and higher postoperative motor block than the QLB (p < 0.05). The QLB and ScE groups required a similar number of intraoperative rescues and presented the same postoperative pain scale classification. Conclusions: The QLB with 0.25% bupivacaine is a potential alternative to ScE with 0.25% bupivacaine in perioperative pain management in elective cat ovariectomy. The QLB promoted less hypotension and postoperative motor block when compared with the ScE group.

Background: The monitoring of nociception/antinociception poses a significant challenge during anesthesia, making the incorporation of new tools like the Parasympathetic Tone Activity (PTA) monitor an added value in feline anesthesia. Objectives: To compare the effectiveness and speed of PTA monitoring when compared to heart rate (HR) in detecting surgical stimuli (SS) during the intraoperative period in 49 female cats undergoing ovariectomy (OV). Methods: Instantaneous Parasympathetic Tone Activity (PTAi) values, HR, f_R, and non-invasive SAP and MAP were continuously monitored and systematically assessed. The time required for HR (HR time) and PTAi (PTAi time) to reach their minimum peak values following each surgical stimulus was collected at five points for each anaesthetized cat. Each collected surgical stimulus was categorized into 3 groups for statistical analysis: no nociception detection, no hemodynamic reaction and a PTAi > 50 (Nhre); no hemodynamic reaction and a PTAi < 50 (Nhre < 50); and hemodynamic reaction and PTAi < 50 (Hre < 50). Results: PTAi response demonstrated effectiveness in detecting nociception compared to HR. The SS were categorized as 36.1% in the Nhre group, 50% in the Nhre < 50 group, and only 13.9% in the Hre < 50 group. In the Hre < 50 group, PTAi time and HR time had similar speeds in detecting the SS (p = 0.821); however, PTA time was significantly slower in the Nhre < 50 group when compared to the Hre < 50 group (p = 0.001). Conclusions: PTA monitoring may be a useful tool to complement HR monitoring for detecting nociception. PTA monitoring demonstrated a superior diagnostic value compared to HR for detecting nociception in cats undergoing OV and a similar speed to HR in detecting SS when HR increases above 20%. Future studies are needed to understand in a clinical setting the meaning of sympathetic activation/nociception detected using the PTA monitor when the HR increase is not clinically relevant.

Objective: Investigate the effect of bilateral ultrasound-guided quadratus lumborum block (QLB) in the need for additional opioid administration in response to intraoperative nociception during ovariectomy in cats. Methods: Thirty-six feral cats were randomly allocated to group control (C) or group QLB with 0.4 mL kg⁻¹ of 0.25% bupivacaine per hemiabdomen. Hemodynamic data were collected at five intraoperative time points. A 20% increase in pulse rate or respiratory rate was treated with fentanyl. Results: Pulse rate and respiratory rate were higher in the C group compared to the QLB group during ovarian manipulation. No differences in systolic and mean arterial pressure and hypotension were comparable in both groups. The QLB group required less administration of intraoperative fentanyl than the C group at 4/16 and 10/16, respectively (p < 0.05). Conclusions: The bilateral QLB with bupivacaine led to a reduction in opioid consumption in feral cats undergoing elective ovariectomy.

Background and Aim: Passive hip laxity (PHL) is considered the primary risk factor for canine hip dysplasia (HD) and is estimated, in stress hip radiographs, using the distraction index (DI). The study aimed to associate the early PHL using the hip Distractor of University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro (DisUTAD) and the late HD grades. Materials and Methods: A total of 41 dogs (82 hips) were submitted to a follow-up study. First, between 4 and 12 months of age, dogs were radiographed using the DisUTAD hip distractor and were determined the DI for each hip joint. Then, after 12 months of age, dogs were reevaluated for HD using the conventional hip ventrodorsal projection and hips were evaluated for HD using the Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI) scoring system. Results: Hips of dogs' in the second examination with FCI grades of A (n=28), B (n=11), C (n=22), and D and E (n=21) had an early DI of 0.32±0.1, 0.38±0.08, 0.50±0.12, and 0.64±0.11, respectively. Statistical analysis using the general linear model univariate, with the DI as dependent variable and the FCI grades, side and sex as fixed factors, and the post hoc Bonferroni correction test showed significant differences among FCI grades (p<0.05). Conclusion: These results show the association between early DI and the late FCI HD grades and the DisUTAD is recommended for the early canine HD diagnosis.

The aim of this study was to test the accuracy of a new automated computer software tool for the assessment of passive hip laxity. The hip laxity was estimated using the dedicated computer software by two blinded evaluators, one previously trained and one without specific training for distraction index measurement, in two independent sessions using 230 hip joints from 115 dogs that underwent screening for passive hip laxity using the distraction view. Previously, all of these radiographs were sent to PennHIP Analysis Center for an official distraction index record. The measurement repeatability of the two sessions was adequate for both evaluators. The reproducibility of the official distraction index measurement, mean distraction index±standard deviation 0.44±0.15, was adequate (P>0.05) for the trained evaluator, 0.44±0.15, and non-adequate (P<0.05), for the non-trained evaluator 0.47±0.17. The distraction index measurement tool proposed can be used with confidence for hip laxity evaluation by trained evaluators, as it provided good repeatability and reproducibility of official reports. The simplicity of the process described leads to a less time-consuming and more affordable procedure.

Objectives: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the differences in intraoperative nociception, incision size and operative time between midline (OVE m) and flank ovariectomy (OVE f) in feral or stray cats. Methods: Two groups of animals, the OVE m group (n = 19) and the OVE f group (n = 19), were evaluated at six intraoperative time points. Cats assigned to both groups were premedicated with dexmedetomidine (20 μg/kg IM) and methadone (0.2 mg/kg IM). General anaesthesia was induced with intravenous propofol to effect and maintained with isoflurane in 100% oxygen. The data collected included heart rate, non-invasive systolic and median blood pressure, respiratory rate, weight, body condition score, surgical time, incision size and rescue analgesia. Results: Significant differences were observed between surgical approaches, with larger incision size ( P 0.05). Conclusions and relevance: Based on intraoperative nociception, there is no strong reason to advocate a preferred surgical approach for feline OVE in sterilisation programmes; however, considering surgery time and incision size, the OVE f approach may contribute to the sterilisation of more animals and reduce the risk of wound dehiscence as it allows for smaller incisions to be made in animals where postoperative wound control is difficult or impossible.