OBJECTIVE To evaluate the analgesic and tissue effects of liposomal bupivacaine administered SC as an abaxial sesamoid nerve block in horses with experimentally induced lameness. ANIMALS 6 healthy mature light-breed horses. PROCEDURES In a randomized crossover study, a circumferential hoof clamp was applied to a forelimb to induce reversible lameness. An abaxial sesamoid nerve block of the lame forelimb was performed by SC perineural injection of 10 mg of liposomal bupivacaine or bupivacaine HCl/site. Quantitative gait data were objectively obtained with a body-mounted inertial sensor system before (baseline) and at 30-minute intervals after treatment. Time to return to 85% of baseline lameness was determined. After a minimum 4-day washout period, procedures were repeated with the alternate limb and treatment. Lastly, the palmar digital nerves and perineural tissues were collected and examined histologically. RESULTS SC perineural injection of liposomal bupivacaine ameliorated forelimb lameness in 5 of 6 horses. The median duration of analgesia was not significantly different between liposomal bupivacaine (4.5 hours) and bupivacaine HCl (3.0 hours). Histologically, mild inflammation was noted in 3 of 10 sites injected with liposomal bupivacaine and in none of the sites injected with bupivacaine HCl. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE SC perineural injection of 10 mg of liposomal bupivacaine/site ameliorated experimentally induced forelimb lameness in some horses. At milligram-equivalent doses, liposomal bupivacaine had a similar duration of analgesia to that of bupivacaine HCl. Further investigation is required before recommending clinical use of liposomal bupivacaine for nerve blocks in horses.

OBJECTIVE To determine the pharmacokinetics of hydromorphone hydrochloride after IV and IM administration in guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus). ANIMALS 8 healthy adult guinea pigs (4 sexually intact females and 4 sexually intact males). PROCEDURES In a crossover study, hydromorphone (0.3 mg/kg) was administered once IM (epaxial musculature) or IV (cephalic catheter) to each guinea pig at a 1-week interval (2 treatments/guinea pig). Blood samples were collected before and at predetermined intervals after drug administration via a vascular access port. Plasma hydromorphone concentrations were determined by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry. Noncompartmental analysis of data was used to calculate pharmacokinetic parameters. RESULTS Mean ± SD clearance and volume of distribution for hydromorphone administered IV were 52.8 ± 13.5 mL/min/kg and 2.39 ± 0.479 L/kg, respectively. Mean residence time determined for the IV and IM administration routes was 0.77 ± 0.14 hours and 0.99 ± 0.34 hours, respectively. The maximum observed plasma concentration following IM administration of hydromorphone was 171.9 ± 29.4 ng/mL. No sedative effects were observed after drug administration by either route. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Pharmacokinetic data indicated that hydromorphone at a dose of 0.3 mg/kg may be administered IV every 2 to 3 hours or IM every 4 to 5 hours to maintain a target plasma concentration between 2 and 4 ng/mL in guinea pigs. Hydromorphone had high bioavailability after IM administration. Further research is necessary to evaluate the effects of other doses and administration routes and the analgesic effects of hydromorphone in guinea pigs.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the thermal antinociceptive effects of hydromorphone hydrochloride after IM administration to orange-winged Amazon parrots (Amazona amazonica). ANIMALS 8 healthy adult parrots (4 males and 4 females). PROCEDURES In a randomized crossover study, each bird received hydromorphone (0.1, 1, and 2 mg/kg) and saline (0.9% NaCl) solution (1 mL/kg; control) IM, with a 7-day interval between treatments. Each bird was assigned an agitation-sedation score, and the thermal foot withdrawal threshold (TFWT) was measured at predetermined times before and after treatment administration. Adverse effects were also monitored. The TFWT, agitation-sedation score, and proportion of birds that developed adverse effects were compared among treatments over time. RESULTS Compared with the mean TFWT for the control treatment, the mean TFWT was significantly increased at 0.5, 1.5, and 3 hours and 1.5, 3, and 6 hours after administration of the 1- and 2-mg/kg hydromorphone doses, respectively. Significant agitation was observed at 0.5, 1.5, and 3 hours after administration of the 1 - and 2-mg/kg hydromorphone doses. Other adverse effects observed after administration of the 1- and 2-mg/kg doses included miosis, ataxia, and nausea-like behavior (opening the beak and moving the tongue back and forth). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Although the 1- and 2-mg/kg hydromorphone doses appeared to have antinociceptive effects, they also caused agitation, signs of nausea, and ataxia. Further research is necessary to evaluate administration of lower doses of hydromorphone and other types of stimulation to better elucidate the analgesic and adverse effects of the drug in psittacine species.

The effects of radiation therapy may be potentiated by combining radiation therapy with secondary therapies. Clinically, radiation therapy has been combined with bisphosphonates for treatment of canine appendicular osteosarcoma for years. The objective of this study was to determine if the timing of administration of bisphosphonates in relation to radiation therapy alters clonogenic survival or cell viability of canine osteosarcoma cells in vitro. Canine osteosarcoma cells were treated before administration of radiation, concurrent with radiation, or after radiation. Reduction in clonogenic survival was identified when bisphosphonates were administered post-radiation compared with pre-radiation. No significant differences were identified for cell viability at any time points. Further investigation of the cellular effects of bisphosphonates on canine osteosarcoma cells is warranted. Consideration may be given to administering bisphosphonates 24 h after radiation to reduce replication of canine osteosarcoma cells and possibly prolong the analgesic effects of both treatments.