Abstract
The efficacy and safety of robenacoxib were assessed for the control of postoperative pain and inflammation in cats. The study was a multicenter, prospective, randomized, blinded, and parallel group clinical trial. A total of 249 client-owned cats scheduled for forelimb onychectomy plus either ovariohysterectomy or castration surgeries were included. All cats received butorphanol prior to anesthesia and forelimb four-point regional nerve blocks with bupivacaine after induction of general anesthesia. Cats were randomized to receive daily oral tablet robenacoxib, at a mean (range) dosage of 1.84 (1.03–2.40) mg/kg (n = 167), or placebo (n = 82), once prior to surgery and for two days postoperatively. Significantly (P < 0.05) fewer robenacoxib cats received additional analgesia rescue therapy (16.5%) than placebo cats (46.3%). Pain elicited on palpation of the soft tissue incision site, behavior following social interaction, and posture assessed during the first 8 hours after extubation were significantly (P < 0.05) improved in cats receiving robenacoxib. Frequency of reported adverse clinical signs, hematology, serum chemistry and urinalysis variables, and body weight changes weresimilar between groups. In conclusion, robenacoxib was effective and well tolerated in the control of postoperative pain and inflammation in cats undergoing onychectomy with ovariohysterectomy or castration.
Highlights
Pain management has been increasingly recognized as the standard of practice for all types of surgeries in cats including routine elective surgeries, such as, onychectomy, spays and neuters [1,2,3,4,5]
Four additional cats were not included in the analysis of the secondary efficacy variables as they were withdrawn from the study due to an adverse event (AE) being not associated with pain
The primary efficacy variable was analyzed with data from 244 cats (164 robenacoxib and 80 placebo), while secondary efficacy variables were analyzed with data from 240 cats (161 robenacoxib and 79 placebo)
Summary
Pain management has been increasingly recognized as the standard of practice for all types of surgeries in cats including routine elective surgeries, such as, onychectomy, spays and neuters [1,2,3,4,5]. In addition to promoting the welfare of the patient, controlling postoperative pain and inflammation facilitates the healing process and helps avoid the development of chronic pain [3]. The opioids and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are the classes of analgesics used most frequently for controlling pain in the immediate postoperative period, since they have sufficient potency and duration of action [1, 4]. In the USA, only one NSAID, meloxicam, is registered for postoperative pain and inflammation in cats, as a single injectable dose to be administered preoperatively. Repeated administration of meloxicam in cats is not recommended by the Food and Drug Administration-Center for Veterinary Medicine (FDACVM, http://www.fda.org/). There is a need for additional treatments for the control of postoperative pain in cats
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