Postoperative Analgesic Efficacy of Tramadol and Diclofenac Sodium in Goats

Abstract

Postoperative analgesic effects of tramadol and diclofenac in goats presented for diaphyseal femoral fracture management were compared. Eight adult goats aged 10 to 24 months (16 ± 5.2 months) were used. The first group of 4 goats received 3 mg/kg of tramadol intramuscularly (IM), and 2.5 mg/kg of diclofenac sodium was administered to the second group of 4 goats before induction of anesthesia IM. Mechanical pain scores, clinico-physiological and red and white blood cell counts were evaluated over a period of twelve hours post drug administration. The study groups were not revealed to the postoperative pain assessors until the end of the study. There was no significant difference in the rectal temperature values and the analgesiometer readings between the tramadol and diclofenac groups (p < 0.05). The variations in the pulse rate, respiratory rate, red and white blood cell counts between the groups fluctuated within the normal physiological limits. It was therefore concluded that preoperative intramuscular administration of tramadol at 3 mg/kg provided similar effective postoperative analgesia with diclofenac at 2.5 mg/kg IM following femoral diaphyseal fracture management in goats.

Keywords: Analgesia; Diclofenac; Fracture Goats; Tramadol