Once long-term non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) therapy has commenced in a pet, monitoring their health status is very important.
Changes in health status caused by concurrent diseases may increase the risk of NSAID-related toxicities and progression of a disease causing chronic pain may change the requirement for ongoing analgesia. Most NSAID-related adverse events in dogs occur between 14 and 30 days after starting therapy (Hampshire et al, 2004). Acute renal failure in cats and dogs can manifest two to three days after starting therapy, while deteriorations in hepatic function may only manifest after a few months. Reassessment of NSAID efficacy and any signs of side effects is generally recommended in all pets 7-10 days after starting NSAID therapy.
Older animals are at a higher risk of adverse events. Since side-effects occur more commonly in middle-aged to older animals, every effort should be made to pre-screen these patients before instituting NSAID therapy. Not only does this approach help in early detection of organ disorders, it also establishes a baseline in the event problems should occur as a result of drug administration.
Monitoring organ function when patients are prescribed long term NSAID therapy is integral to the safe and effective use of NSAIDs for chronic pain management. In animals that are at a high risk of NSAID related adverse effects, regular monitoring at 1-2 monthly intervals is recommended. Frequent monitoring is also recommended in animals with a progressive or unstable underlying disease condition.
Monitor your arthritic patient’s health status this winter with Gribbles Veterinary’s NSAID panel (ALP, ALT, Urea, Creatinine):
Special offer – NSAID panel + free urine specific gravity only $22.66 (excl. GST)*
– simply quote NSAID2020 on your submission form.
We also have digital collateral available to support your clinic’s NSAID testing promotion. Simply ask us for social media post content and/or a client flyer^ and we can send these to you free of charge for clinic use.
*Special offer only available from 1 July to 31 October 2020
^ The client flyer can be customised for your clinic with your logo, and is supplied in PDF format for you to print or email.
Reference: Hampshire VA et al. Adverse drug event reports at the United States Food and Drug Administration Center for Veterinary Medicine. J. Am. Vet. Med. Assoc. 225:533-536, 2004.