LARC Veterinarians’ Analgesia Recommendations for UCSF Rodent Survival Surgeries

Overview

Updated: January 2026

Multimodal analgesia is recommended, which includes a local anesthetic as well as use of NSAIDs in combination with an opioid. Departures from this approach may be approved in an animal use protocol with scientific justification. Alternative regimens are provided, and users are encouraged to consult with LARC veterinarians with any questions.

Pre-emptive analgesia is recommended. Whenever possible, local anesthetics should be administered at the site of the incision as part of surgery preparation, and the first dose of NSAIDs administered immediately after anesthetic induction.

To titrate for sedative effects, opioids such as buprenorphine should be administered 30-60 minutes prior to anesthetic induction when inhaled anesthetics (ie isoflurane) are used and during anesthetic recovery when injectable anesthetics (ie, ketamine combinations) are used.

NOTE: In all cases, analgesic regimen recommendations illustrate the standard veterinary practice and represent the expectation for minimum dosing frequency. Individual animals may require additional doses if post-operative monitoring indicates pain is still present after the last required dose.

Standard Regimen

Multimodal analgesic recommendation:

Local anesthetic (lidocaine or bupivacaine) infiltrated at incision site prior to first incision
Buprenorphine at the time of surgery, 4-6 hours later OR extended-release buprenorphine at the time of surgery. Third dose 12-24 hours later.
NSAID (meloxicam, carprofen or ketoprofen) at the time of surgery and 12-24 hours after initial dose
For more invasive procedures in which severe pain is anticipated, additional doses of regular buprenorphine and NSAID are recommended; please consult with a LARC veterinarian

MICE

Analgesia Agent	Dose Range (mg/kg)	Route	Frequency & Total Duration
Bupivacaine/Lidocaine (Choose one)	Bupivacaine: Dilute to 0.25%, do not exceed 8 mg/kg total dose or Lidocaine: Dilute to 0.5%, do not exceed 7 mg/kg total dose	SC, Intra-incisional	Once at the time of surgery, given locally before making surgical incision
Buprenorphine (Choose one)	0.05-0.1 (regular) or 3.25 (extended release)	SC or IP SC only	Once at the time of surgery and 4-6 hours later. Third dose 12-24 hours later (3 doses) For accurate dosing, use a dilution, see calculator here. Once at the time of surgery and 48-72 hours later, if needed.
NSAID (Choose one)	Meloxicam: 5-10 or Carprofen: ~5 Ketoprofen: 2-5	SC or IP or PO	Prior to recovery from anesthesia and again 12-24 hours after initial dose (2 doses). For accurate dosing, use a dilution, see calculator here

Analgesia Agent

Dose Range (mg/kg)

Route

Frequency & Total Duration

Bupivacaine/Lidocaine (Choose one)

Bupivacaine: Dilute to 0.25%, do not exceed 8 mg/kg total dose
or
Lidocaine: Dilute to 0.5%, do not exceed 7 mg/kg total dose

SC, Intra-incisional

Once at the time of surgery, given locally before making surgical incision

Buprenorphine (Choose one)

0.05-0.1 (regular)
or

3.25 (extended release)

SC or IP

SC only

Once at the time of surgery and 4-6 hours later. Third dose 12-24 hours later (3 doses)

For accurate dosing, use a dilution, see calculator here.

Once at the time of surgery and 48-72 hours later, if needed.

NSAID (Choose one)

Meloxicam: 5-10
or

Carprofen: ~5
Ketoprofen: 2-5

SC or IP or PO

Prior to recovery from anesthesia and again 12-24 hours after initial dose (2 doses).

For accurate dosing, use a dilution, see calculator here

RATS

RATS Analgesia Agent Dose Range (mg/kg) Route Frequency & Total Duration
Analgesia Agent	Dose Range (mg/kg)	Route	Frequency & Total Duration
Bupivacaine/Lidocaine (Choose one)	Bupivacaine: Dilute to 0.25%, do not exceed 8 mg/kg total dose Lidocaine: Dilute to 0.5%, do not exceed 7 mg/kg total dose	SC, Intra-incisional	Once at the time of surgery, given locally before making surgical incision
Buprenorphine (Choose one)	0.01-0.05 0.65 (extended release)	SC or IP SC only	Once at the time of surgery and 4-6 hours later. Third dose 12-24 hours later (3 doses) Once at the time of surgery and 48-72 hours later, if needed.
NSAID (Choose one)	Meloxicam: 5-10 Carprofen: ~5 or Ketoprofen: 2-5	SC or IP or PO	Prior to recovery from anesthesia and again 12-24 hours after initial dose (2 doses).

Alternative analgesic regimens

If scientifically justified and described in an approved IACUC protocol:

Mild Pain anticipated

Examples: Subcutaneous implantation of pellets, cells, tissue, Dehiscence repair
Multimodal analgesic recommendation:
- Local anesthetic (lidocaine or bupivicaine) infiltrated at incision site prior to first incision
- Buprenorphine and NSAID (meloxicam, carprofen or ketoprofen) at the time of surgery

If NSAIDS must be excluded, extend opioid coverage:

Local anesthetic (lidocaine or bupivacaine) infiltrated at incision site prior to first incision
Buprenorphine at the time of surgery, 4-6 hours later and additional doses may be needed based upon veterinary review OR extended-release buprenorphine at the time of surgery and 48-72 hours later.

Consult with a LARC Veterinarian for additional alternative regimens.