Effect of oral administration of carprofen on intraocular pressure in normal dogs

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of oral administration of carprofen on intraocular pressure in normal dogs. Twelve young adult beagle dogs were randomly assigned to treatment (n=6) or control (n=6) groups. After an 11-day acclimation period, the treatment group received approximately 2.2mg/kg carprofen per os every 12h for 7days, and the control group received a placebo gel capsule containing no drug per os every 12h for 7days. Intraocular pressure (IOP) was measured by a rebound tonometer at three time points per day (8am, 2pm, and 8pm) during the acclimation (days 1-11) and treatment (days 12-18) phases and for 48h (days 19-20) after the completion of treatment. There was no statistically significant change in IOP for either eye in the dogs receiving oral carprofen during the treatment phase (days 12-18). After day 4, no significant daily IOP changes were seen in control group dogs. Carprofen administered orally every 12h for 7days had no effect on IOP in normal beagle dogs. An acclimation period to frequent IOP measurements of at least 5days is necessary to establish baseline IOP values and minimize possible anxiety-related effects on IOP measurements.