The objective was to evaluate and compare post-operative analgesic effects of grapiprant and carprofen in dogs undergoing ovariohysterectomy.
Methods: Forty-two sexually intact female, healthy dogs ( < 35 kgs and 0.5 – 7 years old) were enrolled. In a masked, randomized, non-inferiority, clinical trial, dogs received either 2 mg kg-1 grapiprant or 4.4 mg kg-1 carprofen orally two hours prior to ovariohysterectomy. All dogs were anesthetized with hydromorphone 0.1 mg kg-1 intramuscularly, propofol 6 mg kg-1 intravenously, and isoflurane in oxygen. Post-operative pain was assessed using the Glasgow Composite Pain Scale – short form (GCPS-SF) at extubation and 2, 4, 6, 8, and 18 hours post-extubation. After each pain scoring, mechanical nociceptive testing (MNT) was performed with von Frey monofilaments. Hydromorphone (0.05 mg kg-1, intramuscular) was administered to any dog with a GCPS-SF of >5/24. Data were analyzed with a mixed-effect ANOVA and post hoc comparisons were made with Tukey’s correction method (p < 0.05).
