European Field Study With Tepoxalin in Dogs Suffering From Disorders of Musculoskeletal System
This multicenter study was conducted in 6 European countries: Belgium, France, Germany, Great-Britain, Spain and the Netherlands. The study started in September 2002 and was evaluated in April 2004. Dogs suffering from acute or chronic disease of the musculoskeletal system were included.
Following a standardised two page data sheet which was translated in the respective local language, the following information was recorded:
General Information (breed, age, sex, etc.)
Case history
Information on previous treatment and assessment thereof
Clinical diagnosis
Concomitant disease and treatment thereof
Zubrin® treatment: 10 mg Tepoxalin / kg bwt orally, once daily
Side effects and details if applicable
Assessment of treatment success
Owner feedback: Ease of Lyophilisate dosing
A total of 1294 cases could be evaluated. The mean age of the dogs included in the study was 7.6 years, the mean body weight 24.85 kg. The clinical diagnosis is given in Figure 1.
1. Concomitant disease other than locomotory disorders was diagnosed in 302 dogs.
2. 50.4 % of the dogs were pre-treated with an NSAID or a corticosteroid.
3. Duration of treatment with Zubrin® is given in Table 1.
Table 1: Duration of treatment with Zubrin®
|
Duration of treatment |
% of dogs |
|
1 -7 days |
38.5 % |
|
8 - 14 days |
31 % |
|
15 - 21 days |
12.6 % |
|
22 - 28 days |
13.5 % |
|
> 28 days |
4.4 % |
Treatment success was scored by the clinician with excellent or good in 78 % of the cases on Day 7, 81% on Day 14 and even 87% on Day 21.
Efficacy was also evaluated in 214 dogs on Day 7 and Day 28: Excellent scores increased from 14.5 % on Day 7 to 30.4% on Day 28. The data are given in Figure 2.
Figure 2: Evaluation of treatment success Day 7 - Day 28.
The ease of administration of Zubrin® lyophilisates was judged by the owner as excellent or good in 77.5 % of the dogs.
The most common adverse event reported was emesis in 3.9% of the cases followed by diarrhoea in 2.3% of the cases. Serious adverse events such as haemorrhagic diarrhoea were rare (0.23%).
From this study it can be concluded, that Zubrin® is an effective and safe NSAID for the treatment of musculoskeletal diseases in dogs, with very few serious side effects.