Comparison of tepoxalin, carprofen, and meloxicam for reducing intraocular inflammation in dogs

Abstract

Objective - To compare effects of orally administered tepoxalin, carprofen, and meloxicam for controlling aqueocentesis-induced anterior uveitis in dogs, as determined by measurement of aqueous prostaglandin E2 (PGE 2) concentrations. Animals - 38 mixed-breed dogs. Procedures - Dogs were allotted to a control group and 3 treatment groups. Dogs in the control group received no medication. Dogs in each of the treatment groups received an NSAID (tepoxalin, 10 mg/kg, PO, q 24 h; carprofen, 2.2 mg/kg, PO, q 12 h; or meloxicam, 0.2 mg/kg, PO, q 24 h) on days 0 and 1. On day 1, dogs were anesthetized and an initial aqueocentesis was performed on both eyes; 1 hour later, a second aqueocentesis was performed. Aqueous samples were frozen at -80°C until assayed for PGE2 concentrations via an enzyme immunoassay kit. Results - Significant differences between aqueous PGE 2 concentrations in the first and second samples from the control group indicated that aqueocentesis induced uveitis. Median change in PGE 2 concentrations for the tepoxalin group (10 dogs [16 eyes]) was significantly lower than the median change for the control group (8 dogs [16 eyes]), carprofen group (9 dogs [16 eyes]), or meloxicam group (9 dogs [16 eyes]). Median changes in PGE2 concentrations for dogs treated with meloxicam or carprofen were lower but not significantly different from changes for control dogs. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance - Tepoxalin was more effective than carprofen or meloxicam for controlling the production of PGE 2 in dogs with experimentally induced uveitis. Tepoxalin may be an appropriate choice when treating dogs with anterior uveitis.