Hypotension and pruritus induced by neuraxial anaesthesia in a cat

Although preventive epidural morphine administration with bupivacaine is effective in producing long-lasting analgesia, neuraxial anaesthesia can cause cardiovascular depression and pruritus. This report presents the development and treatment of hypotension and pruritus after intrathecal morphine and bupivacaine administration in a 3-year-old female spayed Domestic Short-hair cat presented for surgical repair of a torn right cranial cruciate ligament. Opioid-induced pruritus is not usually considered a frequently occurring complication, but may be easily misinterpreted as being dysphoria in recovery. It can be treated by administration of ondansetron, with human patients usually responding within 30 min after treatment.