Comparison of the Efficacy and Safety of Ropinirole and Tranexamic Acid for Inducing Emesis in Dogs

Abstract

This retrospective study evaluated the efficacy and safety of ropinirole ophthalmic solution compared with intravenous tranexamic acid (TXA) for inducing emesis in dogs. Medical records of 1,161 dogs that underwent emetic induction at Japan Animal Medical Center between 2021 and 2023 were reviewed. Dogs were assigned to a TXA group (n＝581), a ropinirole group (ROP; n＝580), or a combined ropinirole + TXA group (R&T; n＝74). The initial emesis success rate was 25.0% in the TXA group and 70.7% in the ROP group. Adverse events, mostly prolonged vomiting, occurred in 1.9% and 3.1% of dogs in the TXA and ROP groups. The R&T group achieved a 91.9% success rate without adverse events. These findings indicate that ropinirole provides a markedly higher initial success rate than TXA for inducing emesis. In addition, the add-on administration of the alternate drug in cases unresponsive to monotherapy was safely performed. Together, these results suggest that ropinirole is a valuable option for clinical use, while combination therapy may serve as a safe secondary approach when initial treatment fails.