This thesis is an investigation into the effects of meloxicam and carprofen on renal function in dogs, when administered prior to anesthesia with painful stimulation designed to mimic surgical pain. Meloxicam and carprofen fulfill many of the requirements of the ideal analgesic; they are inexpensive, injectable, non-sedating and long-lasting. Increasing recognition of the advantages of pre-emptive analgesia has led clinicians to consider administering these drugs pre-operatively. Older drugs in this non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID) class were known to interfere with physiologic, renal-protective mechanisms that occur during anesthesia and surgery, making their use in the pre-surgical setting relatively contra-indicated. Meloxicam and carprofen, more recently developed NSAIDs, confer the advantage of being preferential for cyclo-oxygenase 2, and thus, potentially less nephrotoxic. The objective of the group of studies in this thesis was (1) to determine the intra-class correlation coefficient of measurement of glomerular filtration rate when determined by plasma clearance of 99mTc-diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid, (2) to evaluate renal function in dogs following administration of meloxicam or carprofen prior to anesthesia with painful stimulation, and (3) to evaluate renal function in dogs subsequent to administration of meloxicam or carprofen prior to anesthesia with painful stimulation and concurrent hypovolemia. These studies demonstrate that plasma clearance of 99mTcDTPA, as performed by the author, has an intraclass correlation coefficient of 0.77. No significant differences in renal function were noted when meloxicam or carprofen, administered before anesthesia with painful stimulation, were compared to a saline placebo. Similarly, no significant differences in renal function were detected when meloxicam or carprofen, administered in the same experimental setting with the addition of hypovolemia, were compared to a saline placebo.