Evaluation of the adverse effects of subcutaneous carprofen over six days in healthy cats

This study evaluated the adverse effects of carprofen in seven healthy cats. Values for CBC, biochemical profiles and platelet aggregation were measured before and at seven days after SID treatment with subcutaneous carprofen: 4 mg/kg (day 1), 2 mg/kg (day 2 and 3) and 1 mg/kg (day 4 and 6) (CG) or 0.35 ml of saline (SG) for six days in a randomized, blinded, cross-over study with a four-week washout period. No treatment was given on day 5. Endoscopy of the GI tract was performed pre-treatment and on day 7 post-treatment. There were no significant changes in hematological profiles, biochemical profiles and endoscopy grading scores within nor between groups, except for lower albumin values at baseline than on day 7 (CG), and globulin and ALP values were higher at baseline than on day 7 in CG and SG. SC administration of carprofen over six days did not cause any adverse effects on gastrointestinal, hematological, or serum biochemical variables.     

Comparison of carprofen and flunixin meglumine asadjunctive therapy in bovine respiratory disease

In an open, controlled, multi-centre clinical field trial, seven ‘naturally occurring’ outbreaks of acutefebrile (rectal temperature ≥ 39·5°C) respiratory disease in housed calves were treated with a single antimicrobial agent, and either the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) carprofen (n=95) or flunixin meghunine (n=92) on an alternate basis. Carprofen was administered as a single subcutaneous injection at a mean dosage of 1·4 mg kg⁻¹ (range 1·2 to 1·9 mg kg⁻¹) body weight on the first day and flunixin meglumine by intravenous injection at a mean dosage of 2·0 mg kg⁻¹ (range 1·2 to 2·6 mg kg⁻¹) body weight on the first 3 consecutive days. All calves were examined clinically immediately prior to initial treatment and on three occasions up to 1 week after the end of treatment. There were no statistically significant differences between NSAID groups in reduction of clinical parameters between examinations, or in overall efficacy. This trial demonstrated that a single dose of carprofen was equally effective as three daily closes of flunixin meglumine as adjunctive therapy to antimicrobial treatment in acute respiratory disease in calves.