Preoperative laser and electrical acupuncture reduced cats’ need for additional pain medication after sterilisation surgery, despite similar observed pain scores.
In a prospective, randomised, blinded clinical study, cats undergoing ovariohysterectomy were assigned to receive infrared laser stimulation, electrical stimulation, or no stimulation at bilateral Stomach 36 and Spleen 6 acupuncture points before anaesthesia. Postoperative pain was assessed repeatedly during the first day after recovery using two validated feline pain scales. Cats received tramadol when pain relief was inadequate, followed by meloxicam if needed.
Pain scores were similar across all groups throughout postoperative monitoring. However, cats that received either laser or electrical acupuncture required rescue pain medication less often than untreated cats, indicating that both approaches provided an analgesic-sparing benefit after surgery.
