The efficacy of preventive analgesia and the cardiopulmonary effects of morphine or methadone in rabbits undergoing experimental skin surgery were evaluated and compared. Thirty-six rabbits were randomly assigned to three experimental groups: Control, Morphine, and Methadone. The rabbits received midazolam 1 mg/kg IM associated with: placebo (NaCl 0.9%) 0.05 ml/kg, methadone 0.5 mg/kg or morphine 0.5 mg/kg, depending on the experimental group. Anaesthesia was induced and maintained with isoflurane. Heart (HR) and respiratory (fR) rates, peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO2), mean arterial pressure (MAP), and body temperature were assessed every 10 minutes. Electrocardiographic examination was performed after sedation, in the trans and immediate postoperative period. After procedure, the control group received tramadol 5 mg/kg IV. Postoperative analgesia was assessed using the visual analog...