University of Tehran Iranian Journal of Veterinary Medicine 2251-8894 20 1 2026 01 01 Analgesic Effects of Acupuncture Compared to Tramadol and Meloxicam in Cats Undergoing Ovariohysterectomy 13 22 95477 10.32598/ijvm.20.1.1005447 EN Nasim Abdolmalekian Department of Surgery and Radiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran. 0000-0001-8647-9291 Mirsepehr Pedram Department of Surgery and Radiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran. & Institute of Biomedical Research, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran. 0000-0002-4740-6994 Ramin Kordi Sports Medicine Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran. 0000-0002-0116-3018 Hesameddin Akbarein Department of Food Hygiene and Quality Control, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran. 0000-0003-3276-4649 Journal Article 2023 11 06 <strong>Background</strong>: Acupuncture has analgesic effects in animals. Common analgesics, such as opioids and anti-inflammatory drugs, are widely used to control postoperative pain in cats, but they can cause serious side effects. On the other hand, acupuncture can play a crucial role in replacing this kind of drug. <br /><strong>Objectives</strong>: This study aims to evaluate the analgesic effects of acupuncture compared to tramadol and meloxicam on postoperative pain in cats after ovariohysterectomy.<br /><strong>Methods</strong>: Forty-five adult stray cats were randomly distributed into three groups of fifteen animals each: TR: Tramadol (2 mg/kg IV) administered before anesthesia induction; ML: Meloxicam (0.2 mg/kg SC) administered after placement of the last skin suture; AC: Bilateral acupoints from kidney 11 (KI-11) to kidney 17 (KI-17) were stimulated. Postoperative pain was evaluated using the revised Glasgow composite pain scale-Feline and UNESP-Botucatu multidimensional composite pain scale (MCPS) up to 24 h after surgery. Rescue analgesia was provided intramuscularly with tramadol (2 mg/kg). Data were analyzed using the Kruskal-Wallis, Fisher’s exact probability test, and Friedman test. P<0.05 is considered significant. <br /><strong>Results</strong>: Mean pain scores did not significantly differ among groups at any time point (P>0.05). The pain score and prevalence of rescue analgesia did not differ from the treatment groups over 24 h.<br /><strong>Conclusion</strong>: Based on this study, analgesic effects of acupuncture were like tramadol and meloxicam during the first 24 h after Ovariohysterectomy in cats.  https://ijvm.ut.ac.ir/article_95477_c18ece3e49b9e84fd63528b18a0b2a46.pdf