Single-dose enflicoxib versus a 7-day course of firocoxib for postoperative pain control in dogs undergoing orthopaedic surgery: A multicentre, randomised, masked, non-inferiority study.

Abstract

Background: Perioperative analgesia is essential in dogs undergoing orthopaedic surgery, and enflicoxib's long duration makes single-dose administration attractive.

Methods: A prospective, multicentre, randomised, masked trial compared enflicoxib (8 mg/kg) given 24 hours before surgery with firocoxib (5 mg/kg) given daily for 7 days. Two hundred and sixteen dogs were enrolled. Pain was assessed using the short form of the Glasgow composite pain scale (SF-GCPS) at predefined timepoints from 2 hours to 7 days after surgery. Inflammation was scored using a visual analogue scale, and owners evaluated demeanour, mobility and perceived analgesic quality. The primary efficacy endpoint was the area under the curve of the SF-GCPS scores during the first 48 hours after surgery (SF-GCPS AUC_2-48 h). Treatment success was also calculated.

Results: Enflicoxib was non-inferior to firocoxib for SF-GCPS AUC_2-48 h. Early postoperative inflammation (2-8 hours) was significantly lower with enflicoxib. Pain scores at individual timepoints, treatment success and owner assessments were similar between groups.

Limitations: The non-inferiority margin was not formally validated.

Conclusions: A single preoperative dose of enflicoxib provided safe, effective control of postoperative pain and inflammation associated with orthopaedic surgery in dogs and represents a practical perioperative non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug option.