Outpatient oral analgesics in dogs and cats beyond nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs: an evidence-based approach

Abstract

This article evaluates the current literature on oral analgesics and analgesic adjuncts in dogs and cats. An overview of how dosing recommendations are made covering controlled clinical trials, experimental study design, and pharmacokinetic studies is included. The weight of evidence for each drug is reviewed and compared with the gold standard, controlled clinical trials. Other evidence such as experimental studies, extrapolation of pharmacokinetic studies, and case reports/series is also considered. It important to know from what data dosing recommendations are derived and how much evidence supports the use of oral analgesics and analgesic adjuncts in dogs and cats.

Keywords: Amantadine; Antidepressants; Gabapentin; Glucosamine; Opioids; Polysufated glycosaminoglycans; Pregabalin; Tramadol.