Effect of carprofen, etodolac, meloxicam, or butorphanol in dogs with induced acute synovitis.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the analgesic and anti-inflammatory effect of single doses of carprofen, etodolac, meloxicam, and butorphanol in dogs with induced acute synovitis (acute pain model) via kinetic gait analysis and orthopedic evaluation and examine measurement of serum C-reactive protein (CRP) concentration as an indicator of treatment efficacy.


METHODS
12 Beagles and 6 additional Beagles that were used only in serum CRP analyses.


METHODS
Acute synovitis was induced in right stifle joints of dogs via intra-articular injection of monosodium urate solution. Treatments included butorphanol (0.2 mg/kg, i.v.), carprofen (4 mg/kg, PO), etodolac (17 mg/kg, PO), or meloxicam (0.2 mg/kg, PO); control dogs received no treatment. The procedure was repeated (3-week intervals) until all dogs received all treatments including control treatment. Lameness was assessed on a biomechanical force platform and via orthopedic evaluations of the stifle joints; blood was collected to monitor serum CRP concentration.


RESULTS
Compared with control dogs, treated dogs had significantly different vertical ground reaction forces and weight-bearing scores. Greatest improvement in lameness was observed in carprofen-treated dogs. Etodolac had the fastest onset of action. Compared with butorphanol treatment, only carprofen and etodolac were associated with significantly lower pain scores. An increase in serum CRP concentration was detected after intra-articular injection in all dogs; this change was similar among groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Carprofen, etodolac, and meloxicam had greater efficacy than butorphanol in relief of acute pain. Carprofen was most effective overall. In this acute pain model, serum CRP analysis was not useful to assess drug efficacy.
Borer
Luc R
LR
Novartis Centre de Recherche, Sante Animale SA, 1566 St-Aubin, Switzerland.
Peel
John E
JE
Seewald
Wolfgang
W
Schawalder
Peter
P
Spreng
David E
DE
D000208:Acute Disease; D000818:Animals; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002077:Butorphanol / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002227:Carbazoles / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D000077239:Meloxicam; D009292:Narcotic Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010146:Pain; D013585:Synovitis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D013843:Thiazines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013844:Thiazoles / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D002227:Carbazoles; D009292:Narcotic Antagonists; D013843:Thiazines; D013844:Thiazoles; C007005:carprofen; D002077:Butorphanol; D000077239:Meloxicam