Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Doxycycline treatment and risk of second ligament tear in dogs
By von Pfeil, D J F et al.·Published in Veterinary and comparative orthopaedics and traumatology : V.C.O.T·2015·Friendship Hospital for Animals, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Effect of doxycycline on contralateral canine cranial cruciate ligament rupture. A prospective randomized clinical trial in 69 dogs.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of 69 dogs with a torn knee ligament (cranial cruciate ligament rupture) were given either doxycycline or no treatment to see if the medication could prevent a second ligament tear in the opposite knee. After several months of follow-up, the results showed that doxycycline did not significantly lower the risk of this second injury. Factors like age and weight did influence the risk, but being a Labrador Retriever did not make a difference. Overall, doxycycline was not effective in preventing further ligament issues in these dogs.
People also search for: dog knee ligament tear treatment · doxycycline for dogs · preventing second knee injury in dogs
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether doxycycline administered to dogs with unilateral cranial cruciate ligament rupture (Uni-CCLR) would decrease the risk of contralateral-CCLR (Co-CCLR). To evaluate predictors for Co-CCLR survival. To evaluate if a predisposition of Labrador Retrievers to Co-CCLR exists when compared to other breeds. METHODS: In this prospective randomized controlled clinical trial, 69 client-owned dogs with Uni-CCLR were randomly assigned to a doxycycline (group-D: 7.5 mg/kg PO BID x 6 weeks) or non-doxycycline (group-ND: negative control). Medical and imaging data, time from Uni- to Co-CCLR and to follow-up were recorded. Statistics included chi-squared test, logistic regression, Kaplan-Meier survival analysis, log rank test, survival curves, and frailty model (p <0.05). RESULTS: This study included 32 dogs in group-D, and 37 dogs in group-ND. Median follow-up was 54.5 and 61 months, respectively. Contralateral CCLR occurred in 53.1% and 48.6% at medians of 20 and 11 months, respectively. Doxycycline did not significantly decrease the risk of Co-CCLR (p = 0.83). This risk was decreased by 14.2% with each year of age but increased with each increasing kilogram of body weight and each increasing degree of tibial plateau angle by 5.4% and 9.7%, respectively. Labrador Retrievers were not significantly predisposed (p = 0.37). CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: At the dose regimen investigated doxycycline does not decrease the risk for Co-CCLR.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26423712/