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. All cats received
butorphanol prior to
anesthesia and forelimb four-point regional
nerve blocks with
bupivacaine after induction of
general anesthesia. Cats were randomized to receive daily oral
tablet robenacoxib, at a mean (range) dosage of 1.84 (1.03-2.40) mg/kg (n = 167), or placebo (n = 82), once prior to surgery and for two days postoperatively. Significantly (P < 0.05) fewer
robenacoxib cats received additional
analgesia rescue
therapy (16.5%) than placebo cats (46.3%).
Pain elicited on palpation of the soft tissue incision site, behavior following social interaction, and posture assessed during the first 8 hours after extubation were significantly (P < 0.05) improved in cats receiving
robenacoxib. Frequency of reported adverse clinical signs, hematology, serum chemistry and urinalysis variables, and
body weight changes weresimilar between groups. In conclusion,
robenacoxib was effective and well tolerated in the control of
postoperative pain and
inflammation in cats undergoing onychectomy with ovariohysterectomy or
castration.