ENDOSCOPY OF THE GASTRODUODENAL MUCOSA AFTER CARPROFEN, MELOXICAM ANDKETOPROFEN ADMINISTRATION IN DOGS

Endoscopy was undertaken to examine the gastroduodenal mucosa of 24 he althy dogs after seven days and again after 28 days of oral non-steroi dal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) administration. The dogs were divid ed into four groups. One group received ketoprofen (1 mg/kg every 24 h ours), one group carprofen (2 mg/kg every 12 hours for seven days foll owed by 2 mg/kg every 24 hours), a third group meloxicam suspension (0 .2 mg/kg every 24 hours), and the last group gelatin (one capsule ever y 24 hours). Serum biochemical and complete blood count parameters did not change significantly after NSAID administration. Gastroduodenal l esions were observed in 17 dogs, but in all cases these were mild to m oderate. The dogs receiving gelatin or carprofen showed the fewest and the least severe lesions, although there was no statistically signifi cant difference between the three test drugs and the control group (P less than or equal to 0.05). None of the dogs showed any clinical sign s related to the gastrointestinal lesions.