Abstract
Objective
To assess the reaction of client-owned dogs to intravenous (IV) catheter placement after applying a local anaesthetic (EMLA) or placebo cream for either 30 or 60 minutes.
Study design
Prospective, randomized, blinded, placebo-controlled, clinical trial.
Animals
A total of 202 client-owned dogs of various breeds.
Methods
With owner consent, dogs were randomly allocated to one of four treatment groups: EMLA 60 minutes, EMLA 30 minutes, Placebo 60 minutes and Placebo 30 minutes. After the cream was applied for the allocated time, an IV catheter was placed and the behavioural reaction of the dog was scored. The reaction score was analysed using a Kruskal–Wallis test followed by Mann–Whitney U tests of the multiple pairwise comparisons, with Bonferroni correction.
Results
A large number of dogs, even in the placebo groups, did not react to IV catheter placement. However, the Kruskal–Wallis test showed an overall difference between treatment groups (χ2 = 11.029, df = 3, p = 0.012). The pairwise comparisons showed a lower overall reaction score in the EMLA 60 group than in the EMLA 30 and Placebo 60 groups (adjusted p = 0.018 and adjusted p = 0.044, respectively).
Conclusions and clinical relevance
This study shows that EMLA cream applied for 60 minutes reduces the behavioural reaction of dogs to IV catheter placement; therefore, this intervention can be advocated for routine use in veterinary medicine to enhance the welfare of dogs undergoing IV catheter placement.
Keywords
dog; EMLA cream; intravenous catheter; venepuncture
To assess the reaction of client-owned dogs to intravenous (IV) catheter placement after applying a local anaesthetic (EMLA) or placebo cream for either 30 or 60 minutes.
Study design
Prospective, randomized, blinded, placebo-controlled, clinical trial.
Animals
A total of 202 client-owned dogs of various breeds.
Methods
With owner consent, dogs were randomly allocated to one of four treatment groups: EMLA 60 minutes, EMLA 30 minutes, Placebo 60 minutes and Placebo 30 minutes. After the cream was applied for the allocated time, an IV catheter was placed and the behavioural reaction of the dog was scored. The reaction score was analysed using a Kruskal–Wallis test followed by Mann–Whitney U tests of the multiple pairwise comparisons, with Bonferroni correction.
Results
A large number of dogs, even in the placebo groups, did not react to IV catheter placement. However, the Kruskal–Wallis test showed an overall difference between treatment groups (χ2 = 11.029, df = 3, p = 0.012). The pairwise comparisons showed a lower overall reaction score in the EMLA 60 group than in the EMLA 30 and Placebo 60 groups (adjusted p = 0.018 and adjusted p = 0.044, respectively).
Conclusions and clinical relevance
This study shows that EMLA cream applied for 60 minutes reduces the behavioural reaction of dogs to IV catheter placement; therefore, this intervention can be advocated for routine use in veterinary medicine to enhance the welfare of dogs undergoing IV catheter placement.
Keywords
dog; EMLA cream; intravenous catheter; venepuncture
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 604-608 |
| Number of pages | 5 |
| Journal | Veterinary Anaesthesia and Analgesia |
| Volume | 45 |
| Issue number | 5 |
| Early online date | 17 Apr 2018 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 1 Sept 2018 |
Keywords
- dog
- EMLA cream
- intravenous catheter
- venepuncture