Macleaya Extract versus Pregabalin Therapeutic Effectiveness for Neuropathic Pain in Dogs

Dogs suffer from neuropathic pain due to several neurological disorders, particularly intervertebral disc disease. We aimed to identify alternative therapeutics for neuropathic pain relief in dogs by comparing the treatment efficacy of pregabalin and Macleaya extract against neuropathic pain from cervical spinal hyperesthesia caused by intervertebral disc disease in dogs. We evaluated 10 dogs suffering from cervical intervertebral disc disease for neuropathic pain using the filament von Frey aesthesiometer (VFA). The dogs were randomly divided into two groups, G1 (n = 5) was treated with 4 mg/kg of pregabalin/12 hours orally for 14 days, and G2 (n = 5) was treated with 15 mg/kg Macleaya extract once daily orally for 14 days. To detect neuropathic pain, the VFA was used to measure the sensory threshold (ST) on days 0, 7, and 14. The results revealed decreases in all ST outcomes with no significant differences between the groups on day 14 posttreatment, as well as a decrease in the severity of neurological disease in both groups on day 7 posttreatment. No significant differences were detected in hematological and biochemical profiles (alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), serum creatinine (SCR), urea nitrogen (BUN), and total protein (TP)) in both groups between pre- and posttreatment were not significantly different. The Macleaya extract can reduce neuropathic pain in a similar pattern to pregabalin. Macleaya extract may be effective for the treatment of neuropathic pain in dogs with spinal hyperesthesia.