Pharmacokinetics of meloxicam in adult goats: a comparative study of subcutaneous, oral and intravenous administration

Abstract

Subcutaneous administration of meloxicam resulted in long-term presence of drug at high concentration in goat plasma. This unique plasma disposition characteristic may offer an advantage in some clinical cases towards potentially improving the treatment efficacy in goats.

Pharmacokinetics and bioavailability of oral firocoxib in adult, mixed‐breed goats

“…Clinical use of firocoxib would most likely occur in nonfasted animals, and, as such, the pharmacokinetics in unfasted goats likely represent the clinical application of firocoxib. The mean half‐life of oral firocoxib in this study, 21.5 hr, was much longer than those reported for oral meloxicam and oral flunixin in goats at 10.7–11.8 hr [mean] and 4.2 hr [median], respectively (Ingvast‐Larsson et al, ; Karademir, Akin, et al, ; Karademir, Erdogan, et al, ; Konigsson et al, ) (Table ). This prolonged half‐life may result in dose accumulation with subsequent doses, depending on dosing interval.…”

“…Bioavailability of oral firocoxib was relatively high with a mean of 71%. Mean bioavailability of oral meloxicam in goats has previously been found to be between 79% and 96% (Ingvast‐Larsson et al, ; Karademir, Akin, et al, ; Karademir, Erdogan, et al, ), while the median bioavailability of orally administered flunixin meglumine was lower at 58% (Konigsson, Torneke, Engeland, Odensvik, & Kindahl, ) (Table ). These results indicate good absorption following oral administration of firocoxib, despite the goats' unfasted state, and suggest that absorption is similar to that of other studied NSAIDs.…”

“…The concentration of firocoxib was undetectable (<5 ng/ml) at time 0 for both treatment groups, indicating that no goat had received firocoxib prior to the start of the study period and that the 14‐day washout period was adequate. The mean time to maximal concentration following oral firocoxib administration was less than an hour, representing more rapid absorption when compared to oral meloxicam (Ingvast‐Larsson et al, ; Karademir, Akin, et al, ; Karademir, Erdogan, et al, ) in goats (Table ). Bioavailability of oral firocoxib was relatively high with a mean of 71%.…”

“…The dose was rounded to the nearest 0.01 g of paste. This dose was selected based on pharmacokinetic studies of other NSAIDs in goats and other ruminants (Ingvast‐Larsson et al, ; Karademir, Akin, et al, ; Karademir, Erdogan, et al, ; Stock et al, , ).…”

“…Animal welfare and pain management in livestock species have become increasingly prevalent topics of discussion and study for producers, veterinarians, and society (Fraser et al, ; Grandin, ; Phillips, Wojciechowska, Meng, & Cross, ; Shivley, Garry, Kogan, & Grandin, ). Researchers have attempted to provide evidence of beneficial effects of analgesia for routine procedures such as disbudding and castration in cattle (Coetzee, ; Stock, Baldridge, Griffin, & Coetzee, ) and small ruminants (Ingvast‐Larsson et al, ; Karademir, Akin, Akin, Erdogan, Ural, & Asici, ; Karademir, Erdogan, et al, ). Long‐term pain management is also important for the welfare of production and pet goats alike, and examples of conditions where chronic pain medication may be indicated include osteoarthritis (either primary or secondary to infection with caprine arthritis encephalitis virus), fracture, spondylitis, foot rot and abscesses, corneal ulceration, and postoperative pain (Anderson & Muir, ; Galatos, ; Plummer & Schleining, ).…”