Objective: To compare the effects of meloxicam or carprofen on glomerular filtration rate (GFR), and to evaluate the effect of meloxicam on urinary N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase (NAG) activity, of cats after dental surgery.
Study design: Randomized, blinded, controlled trial.
Animals: A total of 24 mixed breed cats.
Methods: Cats were randomly assigned to one of three groups (n = 8 per group): meloxicam (0.2 mg kg-1); carprofen (4 mg kg-1); or saline (2 mL). Acepromazine (0.04 mg kg-1) and buprenorphine (0.02 mg kg-1) were administered intramuscularly as preanaesthetic medication. Test drugs were injected subcutaneously at the time of preanaesthetic medication. Anaesthesia was induced with intravenous propofol and maintained with isoflurane in oxygen. Mean arterial blood pressure (MAP), respiratory rate (fR), heart rate (HR) and haemoglobin oxygen saturation values (SpO2) were recorded. All cats underwent ultrasonic dental scaling with polishing. Teeth extraction involved mucosal flap creation, removal of alveolar bone and flap closure. Plasma iohexol clearance (ICL), a measure of GFR, was estimated before and 24 hours after anaesthesia induction in all cats. Urinary NAG index was estimated in saline and meloxicam groups at the same time points as GFR. Between-group and -time point differences in GFR and NAG index were compared using mixed model analyses. Data are presented as mean ± standard deviation (p < 0.05).
Results: There was no significant difference in plasma ICL rate (range: from 1.22 ± 0.05 to 1.27 ± 0.04 mL kg minute-1) between groups or between time points. Urinary NAG index (range: from 1.0 ± 0.19 to 1.36 ± 0.29 Units gram-1) was not significantly different between meloxicam and saline groups. MAP, HR, fR and SpO2 did not differ significantly between groups.
Conclusions and clinical relevance: Meloxicam and carprofen appeared to produce nonsignificant effects on GFR, and meloxicam did not affect the urinary NAG activity, of cats after dental surgery.
Keywords: carprofen; cat; dental procedures; meloxicam; renal effects.
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