Effects of deracoxib or buffered aspirin on the gastric mucosa of healthy dogs.
BACKGROUND
Use of cyclo-oxygenase-2 specific nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as deracoxib has been advocated because of their anti-inflammatory actions and apparently low incidence of gastrointestinal adverse effects.


OBJECTIVE
Deracoxib will cause less endoscopically detectable gastric injury in dogs than aspirin, a nonselective nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug.


METHODS
Twenty-four random source healthy dogs.


METHODS
A randomized, placebo-controlled trial compared gastroscopic findings of dogs receiving placebo (q8h), aspirin (25 mg/kg PO q8h), or deracoxib (1.5 mg/kg QD, placebo ql2h) for 28 days. Gastroscopy on days -7, 6, 14, and 28 evaluated 4 regions of the stomach separately and visible lesions were scored. Dogs were observed every 8 hours for vomiting and diarrhea. Median total scores for each group were compared each day of endoscopic examination and total dog-days of vomiting and diarrhea were compared. Significance was determined at P < .05.


RESULTS
There were significant differences in total scores of the aspirin group and both the placebo and deracoxib groups on days 6, 14, and 28. No significant differences in total scores were found between placebo and deracoxib on days 6, 14, and 28. Significant differences in dog-days of vomiting were found between the aspirin and deracoxib groups whereas no significant differences were found between the deracoxib and placebo groups. There was no detectable effect of treatment on dog-days of diarrhea.


CONCLUSIONS
Administration of deracoxib to healthy dogs resulted in significantly lower gastric lesion scores, and fewer days of vomiting compared to aspirin, indicating that deracoxib is better tolerated than aspirin in some dogs.
Sennello
Kathleen A
KA
Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine, Blacksburg, VA, USA. ksennell@vt.edu
Leib
Michael S
MS
D000818:Animals; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000494:pharmacology; D001241:Aspirin / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000494:pharmacology; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology*; D005773:Gastroscopy / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary; D008297:Male; D013449:Sulfonamides / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000494:pharmacology; D013997:Time Factors; D014839:Vomiting / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary; D000096926:Benzenesulfonamides
D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D001241:Aspirin; D013449:Sulfonamides; C471996:deracoxib; D000096926:Benzenesulfonamides