Pharmacokinetics and safety of single and multiple oral doses of meloxicam in adult horses.

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Safety of meloxicam, a potent NSAID with selective COX-2 inhibition, has not been evaluated in horses. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate pharmacokinetics and safety of single and repeated oral doses of meloxicam in adult horses. ANIMALS: Forty-nine healthy, university-owned adult lightbreed horses. METHODS: Study conducted in 2 parts. Part I addressed pharmacokinetics of single oral dose meloxicam (0.6 mg/kg) in 16 horses. Part II, 33 horses were randomly assigned to 5 treatment groups to assess prolonged administration (0.6 mg/kg PO q24h for 6 weeks, n = 7) or higher doses (1.8 mg/kg, n = 7, or 3.0 mg/kg PO q24h, n = 7) of meloxicam for 2 weeks, compared with control horses (placebo, n = ..