Published in Scientific Works. Series C. Veterinary Medicine, Vol. LXIX, Issue 1
Written by Eleonora MONTI, Giulia MORETTI, Rolando ARCELLI, Alexandra PETEOACA, Lisa GAROFANINI, David FORTI, Antonello BUFALARI
Osteoarthritis (OA) is a pathologic condition characterized by progressive destruction of various components of synovial joints. The OA is generally associated with pain and inflammation and therefore lameness, which are capable to decrease the quality of dog life for a long period of time. Unfortunately, there is no treatment for solving OA, but it is possible to slow down its progression through a correct therapeutic approach which could relieve pain and improve the quality of life of the dog and, consequently, of the owner. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of enflicoxib for the treatment of naturally occurring canine OA. Fourteen dogs were treated for 13 weeks with enflicoxib (Daxocox®, Ecuphar NV, Italy) administered once a week at 4 mg/kg, with an initial loading dose of 8 mg/kg. From day 0 to day 90 efficacy was assessed by the veterinarian by using clinical pain and lameness scores, and by the owners using the Canine Brief Pain Inventory. At day 0 and 90 a complete blood count and a biochemistry profile were performed in all treated animals. From the first weeks of treatment, a meaningful improvement in the clinical and owner scores was noticed. In conclusion, long term weekly administration of enflicoxib at the proposed dosage, resulted in great benefit for the quality of life of the dog affected by OA.
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