Does grapiprant reduce osteoarthritic pain in dogs?

Published:

2026-04-14

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DOI

https://doi.org/10.18849/ve.v11i2.732

Abstract

PICO Question

In dogs with osteoarthritis, does grapiprant compared to no grapiprant result in a reduction in osteoarthritic pain?

 

Clinical bottom line

Category of research

Treatment.

Number and type of study designs reviewed

Two randomised controlled trials.

Strength of evidence

Weak.

Outcomes reported

One study found that dogs with osteoarthritis given grapiprant were found to have significant clinical improvement in both owner assessed outcomes (treatment successes, pain interference scores, pain severity scores) and veterinarian assessed outcomes (total orthopaedic scores) when compared to a placebo. The second study of dogs with acute induced arthritis found no significant differences in vertical force ratios or veterinarian assessed visual lameness scores between dogs administered grapiprant and the control group.

Conclusion

These studies find that grapiprant reduces the impact of osteoarthritic pain on activities of daily living and orthopaedic scores in dogs but does not improve lameness associated with acute, severe osteoarthritic pain. Given the limited and inconsistent evidence, further appropriate studies are required to determine the efficacy of grapiprant in managing osteoarthritic pain in dogs.

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