Current perceptions and use of paracetamol in dogs among veterinary surgeons working in the United Kingdom
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Paracetamol (acetaminophen) is recommended as a first-line drug in the management of pain and pyrexia in humans due to its minor gastrointestinal, renal and vascular side effects.
OBJECTIVES: To explore the perceptions and use of paracetamol in dogs by UK veterinarians.
METHODS: Veterinarians were invited to complete an online survey. Questions addressed career history, previous use, and personal perceptions of the use of paracetamol in dogs.
RESULTS: A total of 450 veterinarians were included in the survey; 96% (n = 431) of whom worked in small animal practice only. The majority reported a frequency of use of 1-3 times a week (n = 197), with oral dosing being the most common route of administration (n = 440). Only 8 had never prescribed paracetamol. Paracetamol was more commonly used to provide analgesia (n = 431) than for the treatment of pyrexia (n = 292) and was predominantly used as an alternative to NSAIDs (n = 408) or as part of multimodal analgesia (n = 406). Hepatotoxic (n = 311) and gastrointestinal (n = 120) side effects were a common concern, although the majority perceived a low risk of side effects and felt they were likely to be mild if they did occur (n = 279). Only 5% (n = 24) of respondents reported having experienced side effects, with gastrointestinal signs (n = 14) and hepatotoxicity (n = 6) being the most common.
CONCLUSIONS: Paracetamol is widely used by veterinarians working in the UK. Most veterinarians have changed their perception on…
Read the paper
Related studies
- Effect of dexamethasone as an analgesic adjuvant to multimodal pain treatment after total knee arthroplasty: randomised clinical trial
- Effect of a Postoperative Multimodal Opioid-Sparing Protocol vs Standard Opioid Prescribing on Postoperative Opioid Consumption After Knee or Shoulder Arthroscopy: A Randomized Clinical Trial
- Comparison of the Post-Caesarean Analgesic Effect of Adding Dexmedetomidine to Paracetamol and Ketorolac: A Randomized Clinical Trial
- A triple-blind randomized clinical trial of different associations between dexamethasone and non-steroids anti-inflammatories for preemptive action in third molar extractions
- An open label randomized clinical trial of Indomethacin for mild and moderate hospitalised Covid-19 patients
- Oral paracetamol and/or ibuprofen for treating pain after soft tissue injuries: Single centre double-blind, randomised controlled clinical trial
Go deeper in Evidence Hub
Evidence Hub adds a study data sheet (design, sample size, evidence level, key numbers), an AI summary and a chat grounded in the paper's text.