Single-dose enflicoxib versus a 7-day course of firocoxib for postoperative pain control in dogs undergoing orthopaedic surgery: A multicentre, randomised, masked, non-inferiority study.

A single preoperative enflicoxib dose provides non-inferior postoperative pain control compared to seven-day firocoxib in dogs.

This prospective, multicentre, randomised, masked non-inferiority trial evaluated whether a single preoperative dose of enflicoxib (8 mg/kg, administered 24 hours before surgery) could provide equivalent postoperative analgesia compared to a 7-day course of firocoxib (5 mg/kg/day) in dogs undergoing orthopaedic surgery. Two hundred and sixteen dogs were enrolled across multiple centres. The primary efficacy endpoint was the area under the curve (AUC) of the Short Form Glasgow Composite Pain Scale (SF-GCPS) scores during the first 48 hours postoperatively. Secondary endpoints included inflammation scored via visual analogue scale (VAS), treatment success rates, and owner assessments of demeanour, mobility, and perceived analgesic quality. Enflicoxib demonstrated non-inferiority to firocoxib for the primary SF-GCPS AUC endpoint. Notably, early postoperative inflammation scores (2–8 hours post-surgery) were significantly lower in the enflicoxib group. Pain scores at individual timepoints, treatment success rates, and owner-reported outcomes were comparable between groups. The safety profile was acceptable for both drugs. A key limitation acknowledged by the authors is that the non-inferiority margin was not formally validated, which tempers the strength of conclusions. Nevertheless, the study supports the clinical utility of enflicoxib as a practical, single-dose perioperative NSAID option, potentially improving owner compliance and simplifying perioperative pain management protocols in canine orthopaedic patients.

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