J Vet Sci.  2017 Jun;18(2):175-182. 10.4142/jvs.2017.18.2.175.

Analgesic efficacy of oral firocoxib in ovariohysterectomized cats

• Phuwapattanachart P
• Thengchaisri N

• KMID: 2412570
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4142/jvs.2017.18.2.175

Abstract

The postoperative analgesic effects of firocoxib in ovariohysterectomized cats were observed. Twenty-four cats were divided into 3 groups: control (no medicine), firocoxib-1 (1 mg/kg/day) and firocoxib-3 (3 mg/kg/day). Colorado pain scale scores (CPSS), composite pain scores (CPS), and buccal mucosal bleeding times (BMBT) were recorded in blinded fashion before induction and 2, 5, 8, 24, 30, and 48 h post-operation. The average CPSS (mean ± SEM) over 2 to 48 h post-operation in firocoxib-3 (0.4 ± 0.1) was significantly lower than that of the control (0.7 ± 0.2; p = 0.004), but that of firocoxib-1 (0.5 ± 0.2) was not different from that of the control (p = 0.40). The mean CPS of firocoxib-3 was significantly lower than that of the control at 24 h post-operation (p = 0.04); nonetheless, there was no significant difference in mean CPS between firocoxib-1 and control groups at all intervals. BMBT and body temperature were within normal limits in all groups. However, reversible azotemia was identified in two firocoxib-3 cats at 72 h post-operation. One firocoxib-3 cat vomited once at 48 h post-operation. In conclusion, firocoxib-3 is helpful for postoperative pain control in cats; however, gastrointestinal irritation and renal function side effects may occur.

Keyword

analgesia; cats; cyclooxygenase; firocoxib; ovariohysterectomy

MeSH Terms

4-Butyrolactone/administration & dosage/*analogs & derivatives
Administration, Oral
Analgesia/methods/*veterinary
*Analgesics/administration & dosage
Animals
Cats
Female
Hysterectomy/*veterinary
Ovariectomy/*veterinary
Pain Measurement/veterinary
*Sulfones/administration & dosage
Analgesics
Sulfones
4-Butyrolactone

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Average buccal mucosal bleeding times of control, firocoxib-1, and firocoxib-3 groups.

• 

  Fig. 2 Colorado pain scale scores of control, firocoxib-1, and firocoxib-3 groups. Differences were not significant among control, firocoxib-1, and firocoxib-3 groups.

• 

  Fig. 3 Average Colorado pain scale scores over the 2 to 48 h post-operation of control, firocoxib-1, and firocoxib-3 groups. *p < 0.05 vs. control.

• 

  Fig. 4 Composite pain scores in cats after ovariohysterectomy at 0 (baseline), 2, 5, 8, 24, 30, and 48 h post-operation. *p < 0.05 control vs. firocoxib-3 at 24 h post-operation.

Reference

1. Al-Gizawiy MM, Rudé EP. Comparison of preoperative carprofen and postoperative butorphanol as postsurgical analgesics in cats undergoing ovariohysterectomy. Vet Anaesth Analg. 2004; 31:164–174.

2. Anderson KE, Austin J, Escobar EP, Carbone L. Platelet aggregation in rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) in response to short-term meloxicam administration. J Am Assoc Lab Anim Sci. 2013; 52:590–594.

3. Austin PC. An introduction to propensity score methods for reducing the effects of confounding in observational studies. Multivariate Behav Res. 2011; 46:399–424.

4. Bednarski R, Grimm K, Harvey R, Lukasik VM, Penn WS, Sargent B, Spelts K, American Animal Hospital A. AAHA anesthesia guidelines for dogs and cats. J Am Anim Hosp Assoc. 2011; 47:377–385.

5. Blois SL, Allen DG, Wood RD, Conlon PD. Effects of aspirin, carprofen, deracoxib, and meloxicam on platelet function and systemic prostaglandin concentrations in healthy dogs. Am J Vet Res. 2010; 71:349–358.

6. Brondani JT, Luna SPL, Padovani CR. Refinement and initial validation of a multidimensional composite scale for use in assessing acute postoperative pain in cats. Am J Vet Res. 2011; 72:174–183.

7. Calvo G, Holden E, Reid J, Scott EM, Firth A, Bell A, Robertson S, Nolan AM. Development of a behaviour-based measurement tool with defined intervention level for assessing acute pain in cats. J Small Anim Pract. 2014; 55:622–629.

8. Camargo JB, Steagall PVM, Minto BW, de Sá Lorena SER, Mori ES, Luna SPL. Post-operative analgesic effects of butorphanol or firocoxib administered to dogs undergoing elective ovariohysterectomy. Vet Anaesth Analg. 2011; 38:252–259.

9. Coe RJ, Grint NJ, Tivers MS, Hotston Moore A, Holt PE. Comparison of flank and midline approaches to the ovariohysterectomy of cats. Vet Rec. 2006; 159:309–313.

10. Court MH, Greenblatt DJ. Molecular basis for deficient acetaminophen glucuronidation in cats. An interspecies comparison of enzyme kinetics in liver microsomes. Biochem Pharmacol. 1997; 53:1041–1047.

11. Curry SL, Cogar SM, Cook JL. Nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs: a review. J Am Anim Hosp Assoc. 2005; 41:298–309.

12. Epstein ME, Rodan I, Griffenhagen G, Kadrlik J, Petty MC, Robertson SA, Simpson W. 2015 AAHA/AAFP pain management guidelines for dogs and cats. J Feline Med Surg. 2015; 17:251–272.

13. Fenster MN. Nitrous oxide as an inhalation anesthetic. J Med Soc N J. 1951; 48:281.

14. Fu JY, Masferrer JL, Seibert K, Raz A, Needleman P. The induction and suppression of prostaglandin H₂ synthase (cyclooxygenase) in human monocytes. J Biol Chem. 1990; 265:16737–16740.

15. Goodman L, Torres B, Punke J, Reynolds L, Speas A, Ellis A, Budsberg S. Effects of firocoxib and tepoxalin on healing in a canine gastric mucosal injury model. J Vet Intern Med. 2009; 23:56–62.

16. Goodman LA, Torres BT, Reynolds LR, Budsberg SC. Effects of firocoxib, meloxicam, and tepoxalin administration on eicosanoid production in target tissues of healthy cats. Am J Vet Res. 2010; 71:1067–1073.

17. Hanson PD, Brooks KC, Case J, Conzemius M, Gordon W, Schuessler J, Shelley B, Sifferman R, Drag M, Alva R, Bell L, Romano D, Fleishman C. Efficacy and safety of firocoxib in the management of canine osteoarthritis under field conditions. Vet Ther. 2006; 7:127–140.

18. Hewson CJ, Dohoo IR, Lemke KA. Perioperative use of analgesics in dogs and cats by Canadian veterinarians in 2001. Can Vet J. 2006; 47:352–359.

19. Joubert KE. The effects of firocoxib (Previcox) in geriatric dogs over a period of 90 days. J S Afr Vet Assoc. 2009; 80:179–184.

20. Kondo Y, Takashima K, Matsumoto S, Shiba M, Otsuki T, Kinoshita G, Rosentel J, Gross SJ, Fleishman C, Yamane Y. Efficacy and safety of firocoxib for the treatment of pain associated with soft tissue surgery in dogs under field conditions in Japan. J Vet Med Sci. 2012; 74:1283–1289.

21. Kujubu DA, Fletcher BS, Varnum BC, Lim RW, Herschman HR. TIS10, a phorbol ester tumor promoter-inducible mRNA from Swiss 3T3 cells, encodes a novel prostaglandin synthase/cyclooxygenase homologue. J Biol Chem. 1991; 266:12866–12872.

22. Lascelles BDX, Court MH, Hardie EM, Robertson SA. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in cats: a review. Vet Anaesth Analg. 2007; 34:228–250.

23. Lecoindre O, Pepin-Richard C. Tolerance of firocoxib in dogs with osteoarthritis during 90 days. J Vet Pharmacol Ther. 2011; 34:190–192.

24. Mathews KA, Pettifer G, Foster R, McDonell W. Safety and efficacy of preoperative administration of meloxicam, compared with that of ketoprofen and butorphanol in dogs undergoing abdominal surgery. Am J Vet Res. 2001; 62:882–888.

25. McCann ME, Rickes EL, Hora DF, Cunningham PK, Zhang D, Brideau C, Black WC, Hickey GJ. In vitro effects and in vivo efficacy of a novel cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor in cats with lipopolysaccharide-induced pyrexia. Am J Vet Res. 2005; 66:1278–1284.

26. Mellor PJ, Roulois AJA, Day MJ, Blacklaws BA, Knivett SJ, Herrtage ME. Neutrophilic dermatitis and immune-mediated haematological disorders in a dog: suspected adverse reaction to carprofen. J Small Anim Pract. 2005; 46:237–242.

27. Monteiro-Steagall BP, Steagall PVM, Lascelles BDX. Systematic review of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory druginduced adverse effects in dogs. J Vet Intern Med. 2013; 27:1011–1019.

28. Orsini JA, Ryan WG, Carithers DS, Boston RC. Evaluation of oral administration of firocoxib for the management of musculoskeletal pain and lameness associated with osteoarthritis in horses. Am J Vet Res. 2012; 73:664–671.

29. Peskar BM. Role of cyclooxygenase isoforms in gastric mucosal defence. J Physiol Paris. 2001; 95:3–9.

30. Ricciotti E, FitzGerald GA. Prostaglandins and inflammation. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol. 2011; 31:986–1000.

31. Sanders RD, Patel N, Hossain M, Ma D, Maze M. Isoflurane exerts antinociceptive and hypnotic properties at all ages in Fischer rats. Br J Anaesth. 2005; 95:393–399.

32. Soll AH, McCarthy D. NSAID-related gastrointestinal complications. Clin Cornerstone. 1999; 1:42–56.

33. Sparkes AH, Heiene R, Lascelles BDX, Malik R, Sampietro LR, Robertson S, Scherk M, Taylor P. ISFM and AAFP consensus guidelines: long-term use of NSAIDs in cats. J Feline Med Surg. 2010; 12:521–538.

34. Väisänen MAM, Tuomikoski SK, Vainio OM. Behavioral alterations and severity of pain in cats recovering at home following elective ovariohysterectomy or castration. J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2007; 231:236–242.

35. Villar D, Buck WB, Gonzalez JM. Ibuprofen, aspirin and acetaminophen toxicosis and treatment in dogs and cats. Vet Hum Toxicol. 1998; 40:156–162.