Oxymetazoline is a nasal spray decongestant. Several studies have shown Oxymetazoline's effect on hemostasis for epistaxis treatment in human. It is used extra label in dogs in the US, with topical use being widely acceptable in dogs with nasal congestion.
With the growing success of brachycephalic dogs (French bulldogs, pugs,...), upper airways ("BOAS") surgery is more and more commonly performed. Rhinoplasty by alar fold amputation is one of the standard surgical procedures in dogs undergoing BOAS surgery treatment. Direct compression and/or topical epinephrine application are the standard methods to control the bleeding from the incision sites.
The study aims at comparing topical epinephrine and oxymetazoline applied into each nostril of the dog after alar fold amputation procedure, and compare their hemostasis effect.
Dogs that are short-headed, have Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome (BOAS) that is going to schedule surgery correction, and above one year old are eligible.
The topical use of oxymetazoline is safe and the hemostasis effect will be applied and evaluated while the dog is still under anesthesia. It is not anticipated to pose any risk to your dog. There may be unforeseen risks of participation in this study. In the event of unforeseen risks, the investigator will use his or her judgment to guide the care of your animal and discuss options with you when possible under the circumstances. The investigator may terminate your animal’s participation in the study if continuation is not in the best interest of your animal or as otherwise deemed prudent or necessary by the investigator. In the unexpected event of your animal’s death during the study, a post-mortem examination may be required to determine the cause of death (i.e., the death may or may not be related to the research and may even be the result of a natural cause). The need for autopsy will be determined by the investigator and the ISU Attending Veterinarian and/or the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee; the investigator will pay for any costs associated with the necropsy.
If you agree to have your animal participate in this study, there is no additional cost at you by enrolling in the study. You will be responsible for any costs associated with the primary visit, normal course of diagnostic testing, which may include endoscopy, treatment, and unrelated medical conditions.
Dr. Mei-Jyun Ciou (515-294-4900)