Epidural analgesia in dogs with special reference to the intraarterial blood pressure.

In order to investigate whether epidural analgesia in dogs employing mepivacaine chloride gives rise to complications, mainly changes in blood pressure, such analgesia was carried out in 35 dogs brought to the clinic for orthopedic, abdominal or perineal operations. Intra-arterial blood pressure measurements were made in 16 dogs. Three different solutions of mepivacaine chloride were used: 1 % solution with adrenaline 1:200,000; 2% solution with adrenaline 1:100,000 and 2% solution with adrenaline 1:200,000. The various solutions showed no significant difference in analgesic effect. Nor was any blood pressure change found during the epidural blockade. As a solution with a higher concentration causes a higher blood level of the analgesic and also greater toxic effects it is recommended that first preference be given to use of a 1 % solution with adrenaline 1:200,000; second choice is a 2 % solution with adrenaline 1:200,000 and third choice the 2 % solution with adrenaline 1:100,000.