Dosing for Dogs

NOCITA® (bupivacaine liposome injectable suspension) delivers effective, long-acting post-operative pain control up to 72 hours with a single dose at surgical closure following cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) surgery in dogs. Adminster NOCITA at a dose of 5.3 mg/kg (0.4 ml/kg) by tissue infiltration injection during surgical closure.


How to Administer NOCITA for Dogs

Moving needle tissue infiltration technique

The technique for injecting NOCITA into a surgical site following cranial cruciate ligament surgery in dogs differs slightly from using traditional bupivacaine formulation because the liposomes do not readily diffuse from where they are deposited.  Therefore, a moving-needle injection technique is used to inject the suspension into all tissue layers of the surgical field.

During surgical closure, NOCITA is infiltrated into the surgical site using a moving needle technique.  While the specific tissues to be infiltrated with NOCITA vary based on the type of CCL surgical procedure, at a minimum, all tissues apposed with suture should be infiltrated with NOCITA.  Multiple infiltrations per tissue layer are required to ensure continuous deposition of NOCITA around the entire surgical area.  Any tissue where pain may originate in the postoperative period should also be infiltrated with NOCITA, including tissues that are transected, elevated or dissected during the procedure.

Approximately 75% of the total volume is administered in the surgical area (joint capsule, fascia, hardware attachment sites, osteotomies, subcutaneous layer, etc.).  Approximately 25% of the total volume should be reserved for infiltration of the superficial subcuticular tissue to ensure continuous deposition of NOCITA around the entire incision.

"We use fewer narcotics and plan our day to utilize the full vial, which allows for less ICU technician workload and improved hospital stay of the pet."

Andrew Jackson

DVM, DACVS

INDICATION FOR DOGS: For single-dose infiltration into the surgical site to provide local postoperative analgesia for cranial cruciate ligament surgery in dogs.

INDICATION FOR CATS: For use as a peripheral nerve block to provide regional postoperative analgesia following onychectomy in cats.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION FOR DOGS: NOCITA is for local infiltration injection in dogs only. Do not administer by intravenous, intra-arterial or intra-articular injection. Do not administer concurrently with bupivacaine HCl, lidocaine or other amide local anesthetics. The safe use of NOCITA in dogs with cardiac disease or with hepatic or renal impairment has not been evaluated. The safe use in dogs younger than 5 months of age, that are pregnant, lactating or intended for breeding has not been evaluated. The most common adverse reactions in dogs were discharge from incision, incisional inflammation and vomiting. Please see the full Prescribing Information for more detail.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION FOR CATS: NOCITA is for use as a peripheral nerve block in cats only. Do not administer by intravenous, intra-arterial or intra-articular injection. Do not administer concurrently with bupivacaine HCl, lidocaine or other amide local anesthetics. The safe use of NOCITA in cats with cardiac disease or with hepatic or renal impairment has not been evaluated. The safe use in cats younger than 5 months of age, that are pregnant, lactating, or intended for breeding has not been evaluated. The most common adverse reactions in cats were elevated body temperature and infection or chewing/licking at the surgical site. Please see the full Prescribing Information for more detail.

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PM-US-20-2874