Post-operative Pain Assessment Following Tooth Extraction Using Liposomal Encapsulated Bupivacaine as a Local Anesthetic in Dogs.

The objective of this study was to evaluate owner assessment of appetite, demeanor, and mouth soreness following dental extractions in dogs receiving either bupivacaine hydrochloride (BH) or liposomal encapsulated bupivacaine (LEB) for dental blocks. Thirty healthy, adult dogs requiring dental extractions were enrolled in the study. All procedures were completed with dogs under general anesthesia. A non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug was administered subcutaneously in the preoperative period. Dogs were randomly assigned to receive BH or LEB. An owner assessment to evaluate appetite, demeanor, and soreness of mouth was completed at the end of both the first and second day after discharge from the hospital. The total of the owner assessments for day 1 and both days combined was significantly lower for dogs receiving LEB (P = .007). There were no differences in the number of extractions (P = .21), time from block to evaluations (P = .07), in-hospital pain assessments (P = .99), or number of dogs requiring rescue analgesia (P = .99). This study concluded, dogs that received LEB for dental blocks had improved appetite and demeanor, and reduced soreness of mouth, as evaluated by the owner two days postoperatively, when compared to dogs who received BH.