Evaluation of the effect of mesotherapy in the management of back pain in police working dog.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of mesotherapy in dogs compared with a positive control group.

STUDY DESIGN: Experimental, randomized, blinded study.

ANIMALS: Fifteen working police dogs with chronic back pain.

METHODS: Animals were divided randomly into control (CG; n = 5) and treatment groups (TG; n = 10). A combination of 140 mg lidocaine, 15 mg dexamethasone and 20 mg thiocolchicoside was administered to group TG along with a 70-day course of a placebo, administered as if it was carprofen. Carprofen was administered to Group CG for 70 days, at a dose adjusted to their weight. On day 0, an intradermal injection of Ringer's lactate was also administered. Both groups were rested for 3 days and resumed normal activity over a 5-day period. Response to treatment, measured by the Canine Brief Pain Inventory (CBPI) and the Hudson Visual Analogue Scale (HVAS), was evaluated before treatment (T0), after 15 days (T1) and 1 (T2), 2 (T3), 3 (T4), 4 (T5) and 5 (T6) months. Results were compared using a Mann-Whitney test or a paired samples t test.

RESULTS: When comparing CBPI results, no differences were found between groups TG and CG at T0 through T3 and in T6 and T7. Differences were observed in CBPI sections after the discontinuation of carprofen: at T4 [p = 0.02 for Pain Interference Score (PIS) and p = 0.03 for Pain Severity Score (PSS)] and T5 (p = 0.16 for PIS and p = 0.03 for PSS), with group TG having overall better results. Individual treatment results were considered successful in one dog of group CG (20%), whereas in group TG, success was higher (ranging from 78% at T1 to 22% at T7). No significant differences were registered with the HVAS.

CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Mesotherapy may be a promising treatment option for canine musculoskeletal-related pain. Further studies are required.