Effects of pregabalin added to a multimodal anesthetic protocol in cats undergoing ovariohysterectomy

Advancement in anesthetic protocols is necessary to address the evolving challenges of perioperative cats' management in veterinary practice. In this study, 54 cats were enrolled and were randomly assigned to either Group P (Pregabalin, PGB) or Group C (Control). Group P received 5 mg/kg of PGB orally 90 min before hospital admission, while Group C received identical empty capsules. Sedation was assessed using a Feline Multiparametric Sedation Scale and a Simple Qualitative Scale. All cats were premedicated with methadone (0.2 mg/kg IM) and alfaxalone (1 mg/kg IM). Anesthesia was induced with propofol at 2 mg/kg and maintained with isoflurane. Physiological parameters (HR, RR, SpO2, EtCO2, Blood Pressure, and Temperature) were monitored throughout surgery. In the immediate postoperative period, the Glasgow Feline Composite Measure Pain Scale short-form and the Feline Grimace Scale were used, measured at 0, 15, 30, and 60 min after extubation. Statistical analysis included Two-way ANOVA for physiological data and Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney tests for pain and sedation scores. Sedation scores increased in Group P by 2.46 (95% CI: 1.69 to 3.23; p < 0.001). Conversely, the scores of the scales used in the immediate postoperative period were significantly lower in the Group P at all evaluation times -2.15 (95% CI: -2.92 to -1.39; p < 0.001). No significant differences were observed in physiological parameters. In conclusion, prehospital administration of PGB provides effective sedation and improves postoperative comfort, making it a valuable adjunct to feline anesthesia protocols.