Isoflurane-sparing effect of remifentanil infusion was evaluated in 24 healthy small breed dogs anesthetized for the ovariohysterectomy. Ten dogs were premedicated with a subcutaneous injection (SC) of atropine (0.05 mg/kg) and morphine (0.5 mg/kg, SC) and induced anesthesia with an intravenous injection (IV) of propofol (6 mg/kg) (Morphine group). Another 14 dogs were premedicated with atropine (0.05 mg/kg, SC) and administered a constant rate infusion of remifentanil at a rate of 0.6 μg/kg/min (Remi-0.6 μg CRI group, n=7) or 1.0 μg/kg/min (Remi-1 μg CRI group, n=7) after the induction of anesthesia (propofol 6 mg/kg, IV). All dogs were intubated following the induction with propofol IV and maintained surgical depth of anesthesia with isoflurane anesthesia. The end-tidal concentrations of isoflurane required to maintain surgical anesthesia were significantly lower in dogs received the remifentanil infusion (1.82 ± 0.21% in Morphine group, 0.89 ± 0.25% in Remi-0.6 μg CRI group and 0.69 ± 0.25% in Remi-1 μg CRI group, p<0.05). No significant difference was detected in the changes in body temperature, heart rate, partial pressure of end-tidal carbon dioxide, and mean arterial blood pressure between groups. In conclusion, the remifentanil infusion provided a dose-dependent sparing effect on isoflurane requirement for maintaining surgical anesthesia in dogs.

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A field trial was conducted to evaluate the efficacy and safety of firocoxib and carprofen for long term use when administered orally for 56 days to dogs for the control of pain and inflammation associated with locomotory disorders under field conditions in Japan. The study was a positive control, double-blind, multicenter clinical study using a randomized block design based on order of presentation. A total of 36 client-owned dogs with locomotory disorders were enrolled in this trial. Nineteen and 17 dogs were allocated to receive 5 mg/kg of firocoxib and 4.4 mg/kg of carprofen orally once daily for 56 days, respectively. The levels of pain and inflammation were assessed before and after the treatments. On Day 56 at the end of the study, 94.7% of firocoxib-treated dogs and 88.2% of carprofen-treated dogs had improved. On Days 14, 28 and 42 at the interim time points, 73.7, 89.5 and 100% of firocoxib-treated dogs showed an improvement, while 94.1, 88.2 and 88.2% of the carprofen-treated dogs showed an improvement, respectively. Statistically, these results were not significantly different. No adverse events attributed to the treatment were observed during the study period. This study demonstrated a good efficacy and safety profile of both firocoxib and carprofen for long-term treatment for pain and inflammation associated with locomotory disorders in dogs.

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