Lidocaine decreases the MAC of inhalant anesthetics in anesthetized dogs and has a sedative effect that may yield a longer but smoother postanesthetic recovery period. This study measured the efficacy of lidocaine, meloxicam, or combination in controlling postoperative pain in dogs undergoing elective ovariohysterectomy. Twenty-seven dogs were randomly assigned to 3 experimental groups of 9 dogs each. All were premedicated with acepromazine (0.03 mg/kg IV), induced with propofol (4–6 mg/kg IV), and maintained with isoflurane. Before induction, group L received a bolus of lidocaine (1 mg/kg IV) followed by a CRI of lidocaine at 0.025 mg/kg/min, and group M received a meloxicam bolus (0.2 mg/kg IV), and group M+L received both meloxicam and lidocaine. Pain and sedation were assessed at 0, 1, 2, 4, 8, and 12 hours postoperatively. Results showed no significant differences in pain scores or glucose and cortisol levels. Group L experienced significantly more sedation at 1 and 2 hours after extubation but scored comparably at all other time points. All dogs had good pain control; none needed rescue analgesia. Lidocaine may be a good preoperative analgesic with an efficacy comparable to meloxicam in dogs undergoing ovariohysterectomy. Lidocaine with meloxicam did not provide more analgesia than either drug given alone. The sedative effects of lidocaine may help smooth recovery by decreasing agitation.
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