USE OF THE FELINE GRIMACE SCALE TO ASSESS THE TRANSDERMAL ROUTE OF BUPRENORPHINE IN CATS UNDERGOING ELECTIVE OVARIOSALPINGOHYSTERCTOMY

Abstract

Buprenorphine is a semi-synthetic opioid that interacts with the mu receptor and can be found on the market in different pharmaceutical forms, including the transdermal patch. The objective of this research was to apply the feline facial scale to evaluate the transdermal route of buprenorphine administration in cats undergoing elective ovariosalpingohisterectomy. 10 healthy cats were selected to participate in the project, who received the buprenorphine patch as preemptive analgesia, which was attached 48 hours before the procedure. The assessments carried out by applying the scale were divided into 3 stages (T1, T2 and T3) and analgesic rescue was carried out in patients who had a score equal to or greater than 4. In view of this, of the 10 cats that participated in this research, 7 had adequate pain control (58.3%), 3 patients (25%) needed analgesic rescue and 2 patients (16.7%) were disqualified from the research. Therefore, it is concluded that the Feline Grimace Scale is a reliable and practical validated tool for assessing pain in felines and the buprenorphine patch (as long as it is in full contact with the skin) was effective in controlling pain in the patients tested.