Efficacy and safety of firocoxib for the treatment of pain associated with soft tissue surgery in dogs under field conditions in Japan.

Use of firocoxib in dogs for postoperative pain control has not been published in any of the journals in Japan. A field study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy and safety of firocoxib in dogs in controlling pain associated with soft tissue surgery in Japan. The study followed a negative control, double-blind, multicenter clinical efficacy study using a randomized block design. A total of 131 client-owned dogs presented to the clinical practices for soft tissue surgery were enrolled. Sixty-nine dogs were allocated to the firocoxib-treated group and received 5 mg/kg of firocoxib orally on Day 0 before the surgery and once daily through Day 2, while 62 dogs were allocated to the non-treated group handled in a similar manner only without the firocoxib administration. Pain assessment took place on Day 0 before the surgery through Day 2. The primary efficacy variable was a success/failure variable based on whether the dog needed rescue medication (based on pain assessment after the surgery or Investigator's judgment) and a significant difference between firocoxib-treated group (16.4%) and non-treated group (50.0%) (P=0.0031) was observed. There was no adverse event during the study that was considered to be related to the administration of firocoxib. This study indicated the clinical efficacy and safety profile of firocoxib administered to control pain associated with soft tissue surgery under field condition.

Effects of short-term light to heavy exercise on gastric ulcer development in horses and efficacy of omeprazole paste in preventing gastric ulceration.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effects of 8 days of light to heavy exercise on gastric ulcer development in horses and determine the efficacy of omeprazole paste in preventing gastric ulceration. DESIGN: Randomized, controlled, multicenter clinical trial. ANIMALS: 102 horses with normal-appearing gastric mucosa on endoscopic examination that were in light to heavy training. PROCEDURES: Horses at 4 trial locations were allocated into replicates and sham dosed orally (empty syringe) or treated with a paste formulation of omeprazole (1 mg/kg [0.45 mg/ lb], PO) once daily for 8 days. Training regimens varied among locations and included early training for western performance events; walking, trotting, and cantering in a mechanical exerciser; and race training (2 locations). Prevalences of gastric ulceration at the completion of the 8-day treatment period were compared between groups. RESULTS: At the end of the 8-day treatment period, the proportion of omeprazole-treated horses free from gastric ulceration (88%) was significantly higher than the proportion of sham-dosed horses free from gastric ulceration (27%). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results showed that horses in light to heavy training for as short as 8 days were at risk of developing gastric ulcers and that administration of omeprazole paste decreased the incidence of gastric ulcers.

Efficacy and safety of firocoxib in the management of canine osteoarthritis under field conditions.

A total of 249 client-owned dogs with osteoarthritis were treated with firocoxib (5 mg/kg/day) or a positive control, etodolac (10-15 mg/kg/day), for 30 days. Veterinary examinations were performed on approximately days 0 (visit 1), 14 (visit 2), and 29 (visit 3). Based on defined noninferiority criteria, firocoxib and etodolac were comparable. Based on the magnitude of the change from baseline, improvement with firocoxib was significantly greater than with etodolac for lameness at a trot (visits 2 and 3) and for lameness at a walk, pain on manipulation, and range of motion (visit 3) (P < .05). In weekly owner evaluations, firocoxib provided significantly greater improvement than etodolac (P < .05) at each scoring.

Efficacy of omeprazole paste for prevention of gastric ulcers in horses in race training.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the minimal effective dosage of omeprazole oral paste for the prevention of naturally occurring ulcers in horses starting race training. DESIGN: Prospective study. ANIMALS: 175 horses. PROCEDURE: Horses in the dose selection portion of the study were sham dose treated or received 1 mg (0.45 mg/lb) or 2 mg (0.9 mg/lb) of omeprazole/kg, PO, every 24 hours for 28 days or 4 mg of omeprazole/kg (1.8 mg/lb; loading dose), PO, every 24 hours for 4 days, then 1 or 2 mg of omeprazole/kg, PO, every 24 hours for 24 days. Horses in the dose confirmation portion of the study were sham dose treated or received 1 mg of omeprazole/kg, PO, every 24 hours for 28 days. Gastric ulcer scores at the beginning and end of the study were compared. RESULTS: Sham-dose-treated horses had significantly higher ulcer scores than did horses treated with any of the omeprazole dosages evaluated. Among horses treated with omeprazole, there was no significant interaction of dose (1 or 2 mg/kg) and loading dose; therefore, the lowest effective dose (1 mg/kg) was evaluated in the dose confirmation portion of the study. In the dose confirmation study, 4 of 39 (10%) sham-dose-treated horses remained ulcer free, which was significantly different from the proportion of horses (31/38 [82%]) receiving 1 mg of omeprazole/kg that remained ulcer free. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE; Results indicated that omeprazole administered at a dosage of 1 mg/kg, PO, every 24 hours for 28 days was effective for prevention of gastric ulcers in horses starting race training.

Efficacy of omeprazole paste for prevention of recurrence of gastric ulcers in horses in race training.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether omeprazole oral paste administered at a dosage of 0.5 or 1 mg/kg (0.23 or 0.45 mg/lb), PO, every 24 hours would effectively prevent the recurrence of gastric ulcers in horses in race training. DESIGN: Prospective study. ANIMALS: 135 horses. PROCEDURES: Horses with gastric ulcers were treated with omeprazole at a dosage of 4 mg/kg (1.8 mg/lb), PO, every 24 hours for 28 days. Horses in the dose selection portion of the study were sham dose treated or received 0.5 or 1 mg of omeprazole/kg, PO, every 24 hours for an additional 28 days. Horses in the dose confirmation portion of the study were sham dose treated or received 1 mg of omeprazole/kg, PO, every 24 hours for an additional 28 days. Gastric ulcers were scored before and after the preventive phase of the study (day 28 to day 56) via gastroscopy, and ulcer scores were compared. RESULTS: Sham-dose-treated horses and horses receiving 0.5 mg of omeprazole/kg had significantly higher ulcer scores than did horses receiving 1 mg of omeprazole/kg. There was a significant difference between the proportion of horses receiving 1 mg of omeprazole/kg (38/48 179%]) that remained ulcer free and the proportion of sham-dose-treated horses (7/44 [16%]) that remained ulcer free. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Omeprazole oral paste administered at a dosage of 1 mg/kg, PO, every 24 hours for 28 days was effective for prevention of recurrence of gastric ulcers in horses in race training.