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Pre-Surgical Information
Spaying or neutering your pet is a big step! There is a lot to consider
when we are planning your pet’s surgery. Here is some information to help
you make wise decisions.
Click here . . .
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Special LibraryOur Special Library
is a collection of informative articles on a variety of health topics.
Click here . . .
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Discharge InstructionsClick here for
information on how to care for your pet at home.
Click here . . .
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Buprenorphine
Although buprenorphine may not have the
name recognition of some drugs, it is nonetheless
a great pain medication for cats.
Buprenorphine is a potent opioid painkiller. Like
all effective painkillers of it's class, it is
manufactured mainly for use in humans. However, it
turns out to be an excellent medication to give to cats.
For a detailed discussion of how buprenorphine works,
click the link to go to another article on
Pain Management. For the short version, let's
just say that buprenorphine acts on opioid receptors in
the brain and spinal cord to decrease pain in much the
same way as morphine or demerol would. Anyone who
has ever had either of these drugs will attest to their
wonderful pain-killing properties.
 Some folks who have had morphine or demerol will also be
able to attest to some of their undesirable proporties.
Some humans do not do well on them, experiencing nausea
or delirium. Cats are especially prone to
experience the adverse effects, or "bad trip" that
opioids can produce. That is reason one why
buprenorphine is so good for cats: Buprenorphine
almost never produces these types of adverse events in
cats.
Buprenorphine is generally given as an injection.
It is rapidly destroyed by the body if swallowed and
taken orally. However, in cats only, the pH of the mouth
is such that buprenorphine is rapidly absorbed across
the gums. Thus, it is in a form that does not have
to be given as a pill or injected, both of which can be
difficult in cats. This
is reason two why buprenorphine is so good for cats.
Buprenorphine is dispensed
in a small amber bottle. It may look like there is
nothing inside, but there is actually a small volume,
just under 2 ml. The dose in only 0.10ml, and it is
measured with a special syringe. Note the red line on
the syringe.
  How to give buprenorphine:
Remove the plastic lid. Insert the syringe into the hole
in the stopper in the neck of the amber bottle. Turn the
bottle and the syringe upside down. Then draw up the
medication to the red line on the syringe. Turn the
syringe and the bottle back right-side-up.
Then insert the syringe gently into your cat’s mouth and
deposit the medication anywhere between cheek and gum.
Don’t give buprenorphine at the same time as other
medications. Give the other medication first, then wait
10 minutes and give the buprenorphine. Buprenorphine is
dosed every 12 hours. Do not refrigerate. Keep this and
all medications out of the reach of children.
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