Evaluation of the safety and effect of lyophilized canine‐specific albumin to increase serum albumin concentration and colloid osmotic pressure in healthy dogs

Objective To evaluate the safety of repeated administration of a lyophilized canine‐specific albumin (CSA) product and to quantify its effect on serum albumin concentrations and colloid osmotic pressure (COP) in healthy dogs. Design Prospective study. Setting University research facility. Animals Six healthy, adult, purpose‐bred Beagles. Interventions Dogs received 1 g/kg of 16% CSA intravenously on days 1, 2, and 14 and were observed, with serial measurement of vital parameters during and for 2 hours after each infusion, to monitor for adverse events or evidence of a hypersensitivity reaction. Serum albumin concentration and COP were measured at predetermined time points before and after each infusion. Results One dog experienced a single episode of vomiting approximately 1 hour after completion of the second infusion. No other adverse reactions were observed during the 28‐day study period. Serum albumin concentration was increased by a mean of 0.57 g/dL (5.7 g/L) (P = 0.003) when measured 2 hours after the first CSA infusion, and albumin concentration remained significantly higher than baseline at 24 hours after infusion, with a mean difference of 0.42 g/dL (4.2 g/dL) (P