Response to treatment with grapiprant as part of a standard multimodal regimen in young dogs with appendicular joint osteoarthritis associated pain.

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: The response to medical management of young dogs with osteoarthritis (OA) associated pain has not been evaluated. Using an open-label design, the effectiveness, over a 4-month period, of standardized management (grapiprant/fish oil/exercise) for treating OA pain in young dogs was evaluated. METHODS: Included dogs were 9&#x2009;months-4&#x2009;years of age; &#x2265;3.6&#x2009;kg body weight; had &#x2265;1 appendicular joint with radiographic OA and obvious joint pain; had a Liverpool Osteoarthritis in Dogs (LOAD) score of &#x2265;5. The non-steroidal anti-inflammatory piprant (grapiprant) was given at the recommended dose daily, omega-3 fatty acid supplementation was initiated at 100&#x2009;mg/kg and then increased to 200&#x2009;mg/kg daily, and leash exercise was gradually increased to a target of 60&#x2009;min daily. Client-reported outcome measures (CROMs) and force plate gait analysis were collected at baseline and monthly for 4&#x2009;months. The index limb was defined as the most severely affected limb at baseline. RESULTS: Forty-eight dogs were enrolled (mean&#x2009;&#xb1;&#x2009;SD age of 30.7&#x2009;&#xb1;&#x2009;10.7&#x2009;months). Hips, elbows, and stifles were commonly affected. Medication and supplement compliance was excellent (&#x2265;95% of target administered), and treatments were well-tolerated. CROMs showed significant improvement over time and at each time point. Overall, peak vertical force (PVF) increased significantly (<0.001), and vertical impulse increased numerically. Increase in PVF from baseline was significant at all time points except 4-months. DISCUSSION: This study demonstrates a clinically meaningful benefit of a multimodal treatment regimen over a 4-month period for young dogs (<4&#x2009;years old) with OA-pain. Future work should determine if early, effective treatment is of long-term benefit.