Evaluation of Dirofilaria immitis antigen detection comparing heated and unheated serum in dogs with experimental heartworm infections.

Background: To evaluate whether heated serum allows for earlier detection of Dirofilaria immitis antigen, dogs with experimental D. immitis infections underwent weekly blood sampling to compare antigen results using both heated and unheated serum.

Methods: One of two isolates (JYD-34 or Big Head™) were used to infect naïve laboratory beagle dogs.

Confirmatory field study for the evaluation of ciclosporin at a target dose of 7.0 mg/kg (3.2 mg/lb) in the control of feline hypersensitivity dermatitis.

Objectives This study was designed to confirm the efficacy and tolerability of a daily dose of 7.0 mg/kg (3.2 mg/lb) ciclosporin (CsA) in the treatment of feline hypersensitivity dermatitis (HD), as this includes some of the most frequently suspected skin diseases in cats and recent publications have reported the successful use of CsA in the treatment of feline HD.

Clinical efficacy and safety following dose tapering of ciclosporin in cats with hypersensitivity dermatitis.

Objectives This study was designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of reducing ciclosporin (CsA) dosing frequency from daily to every other day (EOD) or twice a week (TW) according to clinical response in cats with hypersensitivity dermatitis (HD) and treated with CsA. Methods One hundred and ninety-one cats with HD were given 7 mg/kg CsA daily for at least 4 weeks. Depending on clinical response, the dosing frequency was tapered from daily to EOD over the next 4 weeks and further to TW for an additional 4 weeks.

Clinical safety of robenacoxib in feline osteoarthritis: results of a randomized, blinded, placebo-controlled clinical trial.

Objectives: The objective of this study was to evaluate the clinical safety of the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) robenacoxib in cats with osteoarthritis. Degenerative joint disease, including osteoarthritis, is highly prevalent in cats and many cases have associated pain and impaired mobility. Although NSAIDs are used routinely to control pain and inflammation in cats with osteoarthritis, there are safety concerns because of the high concurrent prevalence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and the paucity of data on the safety of these drugs in target clinical populations.

Effect of oral administration of cyclosporine on Toxoplasma gondii infection status of cats.

Objective: To evaluate whether anti-inflammatory doses of cyclosporine activate Toxoplasma gondii in chronically infected cats or potentiate infection in cats exposed for the first time.

Animals: 30 T gondii-negative cats.

Procedures: Cats were assigned to 1 of 3 groups (10 cats/group).

Effect of ciclosporin and methylprednisolone acetate on cats previously infected with feline herpesvirus 1.

Feline herpesvirus 1 (FHV-1) is a common ocular and respiratory pathogen of cats that can be associated with recurrent clinical signs of disease. Ciclosporin (cyclosporine) is commonly administered per os (PO) for the treatment of a number of inflammatory diseases in cats. A number of client-owned cats administered ciclosporin (cyclosporine) A (CsA) PO to block renal transplant rejection have developed clinical signs of upper respiratory tract disease that may have been from activated FHV-1.

Effect of high-dose ciclosporin on the immune response to primary and booster vaccination in immunocompetent cats.

Ciclosporin (Atopica oral solution for cats 100 mg/ml; Novartis Animal Health) was recently approved for use in cats with feline hypersensitivity dermatitis. The immunosuppressant effect of ciclosporin on the ability of cats to mount an immune response following vaccination was determined. Thirty-two healthy, immunocompetent adult cats (16 cats/group) were treated with either ciclosporin for 56 days at a dose of 24 mg/kg once daily or sham dosed.

Efficacy of a single oral administration of milbemycin oxime against natural infections of Ancylostoma braziliense in dogs.

The objective of this randomized, blinded, placebo controlled laboratory study was to confirm the efficacy of a single oral administration of two marketed formulations of milbemycin oxime (Interceptor(®) Flavor Tabs(®) and Sentinel(®) Flavor Tabs(®)) at a minimum dose of 0.5 mg/kg (0.23 mg/lb) against natural infections of Ancylostoma braziliense in dogs.

Efficacy and safety of deracoxib for control of postoperative pain and inflammation associated with soft tissue surgery in dogs.

Objective: To investigate the effectiveness and safety of deracoxib (Deramaxx®) administered at a dose of 1-2 mg/kg/day for 3 days for control of postoperative pain and inflammation associated with soft tissue surgery in dogs.

Study Design: Prospective, randomized, blinded, placebo-controlled, multi-center clinical study.

Animals: Dogs (n = 34).

Evaluation of oral robenacoxib for the treatment of postoperative pain and inflammation in cats: results of a randomized clinical trial.

The efficacy and safety of robenacoxib were assessed for the control of postoperative pain and inflammation in cats. The study was a multicenter, prospective, randomized, blinded, and parallel group clinical trial. A total of 249 client-owned cats scheduled for forelimb onychectomy plus either ovariohysterectomy or castration surgeries were included.

Efficacy and safety of deracoxib for the control of postoperative pain and inflammation associated with dental surgery in dogs.

The efficacy and safety of deracoxib administered at 1-2 mg/kg/day for 3 days was assessed for the control of postoperative pain and inflammation associated with dental surgery in dogs. Client-owned dogs scheduled for dental extractions were premedicated with butorphanol and randomly assigned to receive either deracoxib (n = 31) or placebo (n = 31) preoperatively and again once daily for 2 additional days. Dogs were evaluated prior to and after surgery using a modified Glasgow Composite Pain Scale (mGCPS).

Zinc-carnosine and vitamin E supplementation does not ameliorate gastrointestinal side effects associated with ciclosporin therapy of canine atopic dermatitis.

Chelated zinc-carnosine and vitamin E [GastriCalm(®) (GCM); Teva Animal Health] is marketed as an anti-emetic supplement for dogs to assist the repair of damaged stomach and intestinal mucosa. The purpose of this prospective, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial was to determine whether GCM reduced the frequency of vomiting, diarrhoea and appetite changes during initiation of ciclosporin (Atopica(®); Novartis Animal Health) therapy for the treatment of canine atopic dermatitis. Sixty privately owned dogs diagnosed with atopic dermatitis were randomly assigned to GCM (n=30) or placebo (n=30) groups.