A Prospective, Randomized, Masked, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Study of Capromorelin in Dogs with Reduced Appetite

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Pharmacology
• Canine Medicine
• Gastroenterology

Background:

• Reduced appetite is a prevalent clinical sign in dogs, impacting their overall health and well-being.
• Capromorelin, a novel ghrelin receptor agonist, was investigated for its potential to address appetite loss in canine patients.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of capromorelin oral solution in stimulating appetite in dogs with reduced appetite over a 4-day period.
• To assess the safety profile of capromorelin when administered at the recommended dosage.

Main Methods:

• A prospective, randomized, masked, placebo-controlled study involved 244 client-owned dogs with inappetence.
• Dogs received either capromorelin oral solution (3 mg/kg) or a placebo daily for the study duration.
• Owner-reported appetite evaluations were conducted on days 0 and 3, with success defined as appetite improvement.

Main Results:

• Capromorelin treatment resulted in significantly higher treatment success rates (68.6%) compared to placebo (44.6%) (P = .008).
• Capromorelin-treated dogs showed a statistically significant increase in mean body weight (1.8%) compared to placebo-treated dogs (0.1%) (P < .001).
• The most common adverse reactions observed in over 5% of dogs were diarrhea and vomiting.

Conclusions:

• Capromorelin oral solution is a proven effective treatment for stimulating appetite in dogs.
• This study marks the first demonstration of a ghrelin receptor agonist's efficacy for appetite stimulation in canine patients.
• Capromorelin offers a new therapeutic option for managing reduced appetite in dogs.