Evaluation of the adverse effects of oral firocoxib in healthy dogs

Abstract

This study evaluated the adverse effects of oral firocoxib in dogs. Six dogs (20.2+/-6.3 kg) were studied. Values for complete blood count (CBC), serum urea, creatinine, alanine transaminase, alanine phosphatase, gamma-glutamyl transferase, occult blood in feces, platelet aggregation, and buccal mucosal bleeding time were measured before and 7, 14, 21, and 29 days after SID treatment with firocoxib 5.3+/-0.34 mg/kg (FG) or lactose 1 mg/kg (LG) for 28 days, in a randomized crossover study. Gastrointestinal (GI) tract endoscopy was performed before treatment began and at 29 days. Lesions were scored from grade 0 to 6. Data were analyzed using anova and paired t-tests (P<0.05). None of the dogs presented adverse clinical effects. There were no significant changes in CBC, biochemical profiles within groups, or differences between groups. Pretreatment mean+/-SD bleeding time (LG, 70.7+/-32.1 sec; FG, 75.8+/-38.1 sec) and platelet aggregation (LG, 86.4+/-10.2%; FG, 85.6+/-9.2%) were not significantly different from readings at 29 days (LG, 95.2+/-25 sec; FG, 91.7+/-24 sec and LG, 73.2+/-15.1%; FG, 84+/-10.3%) nor the groups were different. None of the dogs had positive fecal occult blood tests, and endoscopic lesion scores were grade 0 both before treatment and at 29 days. Administration of firocoxib did not cause any adverse effects on GI, or hematological or serum biochemical variables and appears to have been well tolerated by dogs.

The effect of nonsteroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs on the equine intestine

“…This NSAID, firocoxib, has been shown to be a highly selective inhibitor of COX-2 in the horse with a COX selectivity ratio of 265 (McCann et al 2002). In a clinical study, firocoxib was not associated with an increased risk of adverse gastrointestinal effects in the dog (Steagall et al 2007).…”

“…2002). In a clinical study, firocoxib was not associated with an increased risk of adverse gastrointestinal effects in the dog (Steagall et al . 2007).…”

A Brief Overview of the Coxib Drugs in the Veterinary Field

“…In a long-term study over 52 weeks of treatment, a slight increase in withdrawal rate (5.1%) was reported due to GI signs (Autefage et al, 2011). Steagall et al (2007) evaluated the adverse effects of oral firocoxib in healthy dogs for 29 days and found that a dose of 5.3±0.34 mg kg −1 of firocoxib did not cause any adverse effects on the GI tract or serum biochemical variables and was well tolerated in terms of hematological signs including platelet aggregation and buccal mucosal bleeding time index (Steagall et al, 2007). Firocoxib was found to be effective in a 90 day Science Publications AJAVS long-term study performed on relatively geriatric dogs (over 7 years) affected by osteoarthritis.…”

Firocoxib

“…The dogs were evaluated for 40 days after treatment began and the incidence of adverse gastrointestinal effects was low (3%), although adverse effects were evaluated on an observational basis rather than by using more detailed monitoring. In a more detailed experimental study, Steagall et al, (2007) evaluated oral firocoxib for one month in six healthy dogs. Blood biochemistry and buccal mucosal bleeding times, as well as gastrointestinal endoscopy, were carried out to evaluate the adverse effects of the drug in this experimental model.…”