Ropinirole eye drops induce vomiting effectively in dogs: a randomised, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled clinical study

Abstract

There is a need for an effective and safe emetic agent that dog owners could easily administer to their dogs following veterinary advice in cases of potential poisoning. As a response to this need, a randomised, double-blind, multi-site, clinical field study was performed to assess the efficacy, safety and usability of ropinirole eye drops to induce vomiting in dogs. Ropinirole (target dose 3.75 mg/m2) was applied to eyes of 100 dogs, and 32 dogs received placebo. The drug was administered by the dog owner at a veterinary clinic under the supervision of a veterinarian and led to vomition in 95% of the ropinirole-treated dogs within 30 min. The median time to first vomit was 10 min (range: 3–37 min). None of the dogs receiving placebo vomited in this time period. All owners were able to administer the product and 96% of them assessed the administration to be very easy or easy, which was confirmed by the observing veterinarian. Some ocular signs were seen both with ropinirole and placebo, hyperaemia being the most common. All observed signs were transient and in most cases mild. Ropinirole eye drops provided an effective, safe and reliable means to induce emesis in dogs.

Toxidromes for Working Dogs

“…Alternatively, hydrogen peroxide given orally at 2.2 mL/kg for a maximum of 45 mL per dog can be attempted with most dogs vomiting within 15 min (22). Ropinirole ophthalmic solution appears to be safe, effective and is easily administered in the eye (23). For dogs weighing 20-35 kg 2 drops in each eye was an effective emetic in 97% of dogs in one study (23).…”

“…Ropinirole ophthalmic solution appears to be safe, effective and is easily administered in the eye (23). For dogs weighing 20-35 kg 2 drops in each eye was an effective emetic in 97% of dogs in one study (23).…”

An experimental study of consecutive administration of ropinirole and apomorphine for emesis induction in dogs

“…In addition, it was shown that dog owners lacking previous experience in giving ocular medications were able to administer the developed formulation successfully. 15 Ropinirole, the active component of the eye drop formulation, is a selective dopamine D 2 -like receptor agonist. [16][17][18] It activates the D 2 and D 3 receptors in the chemoreceptor trigger zone in the area postrema of the brainstem that pass the information to the emetic center, which initiates the act of vomiting.…”

“…The registered eye drop formulation enables ropinirole to be used for emesis induction not only because of being fast acting, but also because it acts independently of gastrointestinal activity. 15 Injectable apomorphine is registered for veterinary use in most…”

“…38,39 Because both ropinirole and apomorphine are now readily available, the likelihood has increased that clinicians would use these 2 agents consecutively, despite the general success rate of >90% with either substance alone. 2,4,6,10,15 However, little is known about the risks and benefits of successive use of ropinirole and apomorphine.…”