Efficacy and safety of cimicoxib in the control of perioperative pain in dogs.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the efficacy and safety of cimicoxib (Cimalgex®; Vétoquinol SA) for the control of perioperative pain in dogs. METHODS: A double-blind, randomized, controlled multi-centre field study was conducted in 237 dogs undergoing orthopaedic or soft tissue surgery. Pain was monitored by the attending veterinarian over the 7 days following the surgical procedure using two pain-scoring systems and a visual analogue scale. An enhanced monitoring protocol for postoperative pain was utilized during the first 24 hours after surgery. The dog owner's assessment of perceived analgesia during this time period was also recorded. RESULTS: Cimicoxib demonstrated statistically significant non-inferiority compared to carprofen. These findings were confirmed by owners' assessments and by the evolution of the pain scores. Both drugs were well tolerated throughout the study. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Cimicoxib had non-inferior efficacy and tolerability when compared to carprofen for the control of perioperative pain in dogs undergoing orthopaedic or soft tissue surgery.

Field evaluation of the efficacy of tolfenamic acid administered in one single preoperative injection for the prevention of postoperative pain in the dog.

In this randomized, placebo-controlled, blinded field trial, 62 dogs (of which four were excluded) taken to a veterinary practice for orthopaedic surgery with a postoperative painful component were enrolled to assess the efficacy of a preoperative intramuscular injection of tolfenamic acid (TA) at a dose of 4 mg/kg in preventing postoperative pain. The animals were clinically examined at T1 + 1H, T1 + 4H, T1 + 24H (T1 = extubation). The efficacy results showed a statistical effect of TA in preventing postoperative pain with the evolution in the pain statistically in favour of TA treatment (Visual Analogue Scale). This was confirmed by the sum of the scores calculated at T1 + 24H that was statistically higher in the placebo group, and by the evolution in the respiratory rate, which was statistically lower in the TA-treated animals after surgery. TA treatment was very well tolerated as no clinical sign (except one isolated case of vomiting and diarrhoea, i.e. 3.5%) or change in biochemical and haematological values was observed and as no interaction with the anaesthetic drugs and with marbofloxacin was reported.

Clinical evaluation of imidapril in congestive heart failure in dogs: results of the EFFIC study.

OBJECTIVES: The clinical efficacy and safety of imidapril were evaluated in dogs that presented with mild to severe congestive heart failure (New York Heart Association stage II to IV) by comparing the success rate of imidapril with a positive control by a non-inferiority approach. METHODS: This good, clinical practice compliant, multicentre study (EFFIC study) enrolled 142 client-owned dogs and was conducted in 20 locations in France, Belgium and Germany. Dogs of various breed, age and weight were included in the study. These dogs were randomised into two groups that were treated for 84 days with either the test product, imidapril, or the positive control, benazepril, and followed up in parallel over this period. Both treatments were administered at a dose of 0.25 mg/kg once a day with the possibility of doubling this dose to 0.5 mg/kg if considered necessary from a clinical point of view. In addition, concomitant treatment was given to dogs presenting with pulmonary oedema and/or ascites, supraventricular tachyarrhythmia and/or dilated cardiomyopathy. The evolution of the New York Heart Association stage and the "functional signs" score were evaluated as primary efficacy criteria. RESULTS: The success rate in the imidapril group was 66 compared with 68 per cent in the benazepril group. Regarding safety, 35 dogs in each group experienced at least one adverse event. Nine dogs in each group experienced at least one serious adverse event. The difference between these results was not statistically significant. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Imidapril is as efficacious and safe as the reference product, benazepril.

Field evaluation of the efficacy and the safety of a combination of oxantel/pyrantel/praziquantel in the treatment of naturally acquired gastrointestinal nematode and/or cestode infestations in dogs in Europe.

In five multicentre field trials, the efficacy and safety of a combination of oxantel/pyrantel/praziquantel (Dolpac), Vetoquinol SA) in the treatment of naturally acquired gastrointestinal nematode and/or cestode infestation in dogs was evaluated in northern and southern Europe. Forty-eight investigators from France, Belgium, Germany, Italy and Spain enrolled 329 dogs to be treated with the tested combination; 235 of these dogs complied with the inclusion criteria of the protocol and had a tested helminth identified on Day 0. A pooled analysis was performed on each of the following helminth species: Toxocara canis, Ancylostoma caninum, Toxascaris leonina, Trichuris vulpis, Uncinaria stenocephala, Taenia spp. and Dipylidium caninum, which were isolated on Day 0. The main efficacy criterion was the egg per gram (epg) percent reduction of the nematodes and the absence of proglottids and or eggs for the cestodes. After treatment, dogs were examined on Day 7, Day 14 and Day 21. The efficacy of the combination against Toxocara canis was 99.1%, 98.8% and 98.9% on Day 7, Day 14 and Day 21, respectively. At the same occasions the efficacy was, respectively, 99.2%, 99.2% and 99.3% against Ancylostoma caninum, 97.3%, 97.2% and 98.4% against Trichuris vulpis, 98.4%, 98.8% and 98.8% against Uncinaria stenocephala, 98.9%, 99.5% and 99.9% against Toxascaris leonina, 97.1%, 100% and 100% against Dipylidium caninum and 100% against Taenia spp.

Comparison of an antifungal agent with a mixture of antifungal, antibiotic and corticosteroid agents for the treatment of Malassezia species otitis in dogs.

Twenty dogs with otitis externa in both ears and numerous Malassezia species yeasts on cytological examination were treated in one ear with a combination product containing clotrimazole, marbofloxacin and dexamethasone, and in the other ear with a topical antifungal containing miconazole. The effects of the treatments were analysed on the basis of the scores for pruritus, erythema and amount of cerumen, and the number of yeasts on cytological smears. There were reductions in the counts of Malassezia species after both treatments, but the combination product gave significantly greater reductions in erythema, cerumen and pruritus.

Field evaluation of efficacy and tolerance of a 2% marbofloxacin injectable solution for the treatment of respiratory disease in fattening pigs.

In a controlled and randomized field trial carried out in three European countries, 219 fattening pigs, from seven farms with respiratory disease problems, were treated intramuscularly for three or five days either with marbofloxacin 2 mg/kg/day, or with amoxicillin 7 mg/kg/day. Pigs were monitored daily until D5 (Day 5) and again at D21, and were weighed at D0 and D21. Pasteurella multocida, Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae, and Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae were mainly identified in the pig lungs. The difference in the cure rate (74.5% in marbofloxacin group versus 68% in the amoxicillin group) was not significant. Mean rectal temperature was significantly lower after treatment with marbofloxacin. Other criteria tended to be favourable for the marbofloxacin group, although differences were not significant. The time to cure tended to be shorter for the marbofloxacin group (24.3% of pigs at 24 hours post-treatment versus 12.1% in the amoxicillin group). Marbofloxacin and amoxicillin relapse rates were 11.9% and 17.2% respectively (not significant) and daily weight gain was 746 g in the marbofloxacin group versus 687 g in the amoxicillin group (not significant). The 2% marbofloxacin solution was significantly better tolerated than amoxicillin.