Kinetic gait and subjective analysis of the effects of a tachykinin receptor antagonist in dogs with sodium urate–induced synovitis

Abstract

Preemptive administration of an NK(1) receptor antagonist failed to significantly improve subjective or objective outcome measures in dogs with monosodium urate-induced synovitis.

Development of a model to induce transient synovitis and lameness in the hip joint of dogs

“…Although use of sodium urate to induce acute synovitis in the stifle joints of dogs has been well described, [9][10][11][12][13][14] to our knowledge, the present study was the first to describe the use of sodium urate to induce acute and transient synovitis in the hip joints of dogs and the associated gait changes. Sodium urateinduced synovitis causes an acute inflammatory reaction characterized by a dramatic increase in synovial prostaglandin E 2 concentration and an initial infiltration of monocytes, macrophages, and mast cells followed by polymorphonuclear leukocytes into the synovial space 23,24 and is generally accompanied by signs of pain.…”

“…20 Also, during each instrumented gait analysis, dogs were kept at a walk (mean constant velocity for all dogs ranged from 0.5 to 1.2 m/s) as recommended. 12,19,20 The use of standardized trial conditions during instrumented gait analysis is important if data are to be compared among collection sites, times, and individual subjects.…”

“…8 In dogs, intra-articular injection of sodium urate has been frequently used to induce synovitis of the stifle joint, [9][10][11][12][13][14] generally to assess the efficacy of various analgesics. To our knowledge, this method has not been used to induce synovitis in the hip joint.…”

Serum cortisol concentration and force plate analysis in the assessment of pain associated with sodium urate–induced acute synovitis in dogs

“…[11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20] Although used at various concentrations and volumes, the urate suspension results in a lameness of predictable duration. Our results were consistent with the following prediction: all dogs were non-weight bearing at 2.5 hours after synovitis induction and clinically normal at 24 hours.…”

“…[11][12][13] This lameness can be measured objectively with force platform gait analysis. 11,12,[14][15][16][17][18][19][20] Given that no other orthopedic or neurologic abnormalities were induced in the lameness model, 12 it is reasonable to conclude that the lameness was caused by joint pain; thus, if one can sensitively and objectively measure the lameness, one can effectively estimate joint pain.…”