Abstract
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are commonly prescribed by veterinary surgeons for the treatment of canine osteoarthritis, and affected dogs may receive these drugs for long periods of time. Whilst short term administration of NSAIDs to dogs is linked to adverse events such as gastrointestinal haemorrhage and renal injury, reports of adverse events associated with their long-term administration are limited in the veterinary literature. This study aimed to investigate the attitudes towards the long term use of NSAIDs for canine osteoarthritis held by three groups who manage osteoarthritic dogs in the United Kingdom: dog owners, veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses. A qualitative methodology was adopted, using semi-structured interviews and focus groups. Thematic analysis of these data identified three themes: awareness of potential risks; recognition of adverse events; and influence of risk perception on the use of NSAIDs. Awareness of, and concern about, the risk of adverse events associated with NSAID administration to dogs with osteoarthritis was high in all groups, with veterinary surgeons being one of a variety of information sources used by owners to acquire this knowledge. Veterinary surgeons described difficulty in recognising, managing and avoiding adverse events associated with NSAIDs. When adverse events occurred, a wide range of management approaches were adopted ranging from a brief drug respite to permanent cessation of administration of any NSAIDs to that dog. Commonly employed approaches to minimise risk included dose reduction and screening blood tests. This study describes a high level of concern about the risks associated with long term NSAID administration to dogs with osteoarthritis and highlights a diverse range of strategies employed to minimise these risks. The evidence base for these strategies is poor, and this may present a risk to animal welfare if the affected dogs are not receiving adequate analgesia. In order to address this, more accurate and comprehensive data must be supplied to both veterinary professionals and owners on the true frequency of adverse events associated with long term administration of veterinary NSAIDs and how best to avoid them.
Highlights
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are commonly used to treat dogs with osteoarthritis (Sanderson et al, 2009)
All dogs discussed by owners had received at least one of five different NSAIDs for their osteoarthritis
Thematic analysis of the coded excerpts relating the use of NSAIDs identified three themes: awareness of potential risks; recognition of adverse events; and the influence of risk perception on the use of NSAIDs
Summary
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are commonly used to treat dogs with osteoarthritis (Sanderson et al, 2009). Systematic reviews have assessed the efficacy (Aragon et al, 2007; Sanderson et al, 2009) and safety of veterinary NSAIDs (Innes et al., 2010; Monteiro-Steagall et al, 2013). The attitudes of pet owners regarding NSAID safety have not previously been reported in peer reviewed literature, but survey data has found a link between safety concerns and poor compliance (Zoetis Inc., 2013). This may have serious implications for the welfare of animals not receiving prescribed analgesia
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.