Postoperative Analgesic Effect of Cordia Verbenacea Aromatherapy in Bitches Undergoing Ovariohysterectomy

Resumo

This study evaluated the effects of topical aromatherapy with Cordia verbenacea D.C. (Boraginaceae) essential oil on postoperative pain in bitches who underwent elective ovariohysterectomy (OVH). Twenty dogs were used and randomly distributed into the aromatherapy and placebo groups, with ten animals each. The animals of both groups received pre-anaesthetic medication (PAM), meloxicam, and antibiotic therapy before being anesthetized and undergoing OVH. The animals in the aromatherapy group received Cordia verbenacea essential oil mixed with a biphasic carrier immediately after extubation and 3, 5, and 8 hours after PAM, while the dogs in the placebo group received the biphasic carrier at the same time points. All animals in the experiment were evaluated for pain before the PAM (M0) and 3 (M3), 5 (M5), 8 (M8), 12 (M12), and 24 (M24) hours after the surgical procedure. The aromatherapy group showed a significantly lower pain score compared to the placebo group at M8, M12, and M24 and also required fewer administrations of analgesics in this period. Therefore, aromatherapy with Cordia verbenacea essential oil showed an analgesic effect in the postoperative period of bitches undergoing OVH.