title: MANAGEMENT OF OSTEOARTHRITIS IN A GIANT PANDA (AILUROPODA MELANOLEUCA) WITH MULTIMODAL THERAPY INCLUDING AMANTADINE SULPHATE.
abstract: In 2002 a 23-yr-old female giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) presented with left hind limb lameness presumably due to osteoarthritis. For the next five years, arthritic episodes were managed with the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) carprofen at 2 mg/kg p.o. s.i.d., then reduced to 1 mg/kg p.o. s.i.d. and withdrawn. Radiographs revealed osteoarthritis in various joints and lumbar spondylosis. In 2007 glucosamine and chondroitin at 1.65 g p.o. b.i.d. and a polyunsaturated fatty acid at 1 capsule p.o. s.i.d. By 2008, arthritic episodes were becoming more difficult to successfully manage and higher doses and longer durations of treatment with carprofen were needed (2 mg/kg p.o. b.i.d.) and by August 2009 episodic treatment was no longer successful so the carprofen was continued indefinitely at 1 mg/kg p.o. s.i.d. In November 2009 carprofen was increased to 2 mg/kg p.o. b.i.d. An NMDA antagonist amantadine sulphate was trialed and after 10 days at 200 mg p.o. s.i.d. the clinical signs resolved. Since then it has been maintained on carprofen at 1 mg/kg p.o. b.i.d., amantadine sulphate 200 mg p.o. s.i.d. and the neutraceuticals as above with no further relapses of arthritic pain.
authors.forename: Nimal
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Fernando
authors.forename: Elke
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Cissy
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kou
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Martelli
authors.forename: Lee Foo
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Khong
authors.forename: Kathy
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Larson
mesh_terms: D000547:Amantadine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018712:Analgesics, Non-Narcotic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000818:Animals; D000836:Animals, Zoo; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002227:Carbazoles / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000662:veterinary*; D001503:Ursidae
chemical_list: D018712:Analgesics, Non-Narcotic; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D002227:Carbazoles; D000547:Amantadine; C007005:carprofen
keywords: Ailuropoda melanoleuca; allodynia; amantadine sulphate; giant panda; osteoarthritis