Frontiers in Veterinary Science (Oct 2024)

Response to treatment with grapiprant as part of a standard multimodal regimen in young dogs with appendicular joint osteoarthritis associated pain

  • Masataka Enomoto,
  • Jonathan Hash,
  • Tracey Cole,
  • Maria D. Porcel Sanchez,
  • Andrea Thomson,
  • Erin Perry,
  • Savannah Aker,
  • Aoi Nakanishi-Hester,
  • Emily Haupt,
  • Logan Opperman,
  • Simon Roe,
  • Nichola Archer Thompson,
  • John F. Innes,
  • Benedict Duncan Xavier Lascelles,
  • Benedict Duncan Xavier Lascelles,
  • Benedict Duncan Xavier Lascelles

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2024.1461628
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 11

Abstract

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IntroductionThe response to medical management of young dogs with osteoarthritis (OA) associated pain has not been evaluated. Using an open-label design, the effectiveness, over a 4-month period, of standardized management (grapiprant/fish oil/exercise) for treating OA pain in young dogs was evaluated.MethodsIncluded dogs were 9 months-4 years of age; ≥3.6 kg body weight; had ≥1 appendicular joint with radiographic OA and obvious joint pain; had a Liverpool Osteoarthritis in Dogs (LOAD) score of ≥5. The non-steroidal anti-inflammatory piprant (grapiprant) was given at the recommended dose daily, omega-3 fatty acid supplementation was initiated at 100 mg/kg and then increased to 200 mg/kg daily, and leash exercise was gradually increased to a target of 60 min daily. Client-reported outcome measures (CROMs) and force plate gait analysis were collected at baseline and monthly for 4 months. The index limb was defined as the most severely affected limb at baseline.ResultsForty-eight dogs were enrolled (mean ± SD age of 30.7 ± 10.7 months). Hips, elbows, and stifles were commonly affected. Medication and supplement compliance was excellent (≥95% of target administered), and treatments were well-tolerated. CROMs showed significant improvement over time and at each time point. Overall, peak vertical force (PVF) increased significantly (<0.001), and vertical impulse increased numerically. Increase in PVF from baseline was significant at all time points except 4-months.DiscussionThis study demonstrates a clinically meaningful benefit of a multimodal treatment regimen over a 4-month period for young dogs (<4 years old) with OA-pain. Future work should determine if early, effective treatment is of long-term benefit.

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