An opioid‐free anaesthesia (OFA) technique for dorsal laminectomy in a dog subsequent to severe bradycardia and hypothermia after previous subcutaneous methadone administration

A 6-year-old, male, crossbreed dog presented for investigation and treatment of neck thoracic limb pain. Frequent repeated subcutaneous methadone administration resulted in severe side effects, including bradycardia, hypothermia profound sedation. Based on the dog's previously evasive behaviour, suspected cervical myelopathy technical impracticality, decision was made not to antagonise opioid effects. Supportive given until general anaesthesia diagnostic imaging, surgery deemed appropriate. In veterinary medicine, opioids are considered gold-standard analgesics; therefore, perioperative analgesia can be challenging when previous use a patient caused This case report presents an opioid-free anaesthetic technique magnetic resonance imaging dorsal laminectomy dog. As part balanced multimodal approach, ketamine, dexmedetomidine, paracetamol, gabapentin, lidocaine bupivacaine were included protocol; with meloxicam discontinued before due episodes vomiting regurgitation.