Does ranitidine administration improve gastrointestinal hypomotility in dogs?

• Main Author: Lara Brunori
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: RCVS Knowledge 2021-02-01
• Series: Veterinary Evidence
• Subjects: ranitidine; prokinetic; gastrointestinal hypomotility; acetylcholinesterase inhibitor
• Online Access: https://veterinaryevidence.org/index.php/ve/article/view/357

PICO question In dogs presenting with gastrointestinal (GI) hypomotility is ranitidine administration (any route) beneficial in improving GI motility?   Clinical bottom line Category of research question Treatment The number and type of study designs reviewed One prospective controlled clinical trial and five experimental crossover studies Strength of evidence Weak Outcomes reported The vast majority of the evidence investigating ranitidine as a prokinetic has been carried out in experimental settings both in vivo with healthy conscious and anaesthetised dogs and in vitro. Under these circumstances ranitidine has shown some prokinetic properties. However, it is difficult to translate these results into reliable clinical recommendations, as the doses mentioned in these studies are often higher than the ones clinically recommended and healthy canine patients might respond differently to clinically affected ones Conclusion Although in experimental settings ranitidine has shown some prokinetic activities, no reliable clinical recommendations can be drawn from the appraised studies. There is a need of prospective clinical trials evaluating the administration of ranitidine to dogs presenting with GI hypomotility. Until further relevant studies become available, the efficacy of ranitidine administration as a prokinetic agent in dogs with GI hypomotility remains uncertain   How to apply this evidence in practice The application of evidence into practice should take into account multiple factors, not limited to: individual clinical expertise, patient’s circumstances and owners’ values, country, location or clinic where you work, the individual case in front of you, the availability of therapies and resources. Knowledge Summaries are a resource to help reinforce or inform decision making. They do not override the responsibility or judgement of the practitioner to do what is best for the animal in their care.