Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamic effects of meloxicam in piglets subjected to a kaolin inflammation model

The pharmacokinetics and the analgesic, anti-inflammatory and antipyretic effects of meloxicam were investigated in a placebo controlled study in 2-week-old piglets. Inflammation was induced by a subcutaneous injection of kaolin in the left metacarpus, and 16 h later, meloxicam (0.6 mg/kg) or saline was administered intramuscularly. The absorption half-life was relatively short (0.19 h) and the elimination half-life was 2.6 h. Mechanical nociceptive threshold testing was used to evaluate the analgesic effect, but no significant effect of the meloxicam treatment was found. The skin temperature of the inflamed area increased after the kaolin injection, but no significant decrease in temperature was found after administration of meloxicam. Only limited pyresis was observed after the kaolin injection, and no significant antipyretic effect of meloxicam was found. The results indicated that this dose of meloxicam had very limited anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects in piglets.

Effect of carprofen, etodolac, meloxicam, or butorphanol in dogs with induced acute synovitis

OBJECTIVE: To compare the analgesic and anti-inflammatory effect of single doses of carprofen, etodolac, meloxicam, and butorphanol in dogs with induced acute synovitis (acute pain model) via kinetic gait analysis and orthopedic evaluation and examine measurement of serum C-reactive protein (CRP) concentration as an indicator of treatment efficacy. ANIMALS: 12 Beagles and 6 additional Beagles that were used only in serum CRP analyses. PROCEDURE: Acute synovitis was induced in right stifle joints of dogs via intra-articular injection of monosodium urate solution. Treatments included butorphanol (0.2 mg/kg, i.v.), carprofen (4 mg/kg, PO), etodolac (17 mg/kg, PO), or meloxicam (0.2 mg/kg, PO); control dogs received no treatment. The procedure was repeated (3-week intervals) until all dogs received all treatments including control treatment. Lameness was assessed on a biomechanical force platform and via orthopedic evaluations of the stifle joints; blood was collected to monitor serum CRP concentration. RESULTS: Compared with control dogs, treated dogs had significantly different vertical ground reaction forces and weight-bearing scores. Greatest improvement in lameness was observed in carprofen-treated dogs. Etodolac had the fastest onset of action. Compared with butorphanol treatment, only carprofen and etodolac were associated with significantly lower pain scores. An increase in serum CRP concentration was detected after intra-articular injection in all dogs; this change was similar among groups. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Carprofen, etodolac, and meloxicam had greater efficacy than butorphanol in relief of acute pain. Carprofen was most effective overall. In this acute pain model, serum CRP analysis was not useful to assess drug efficacy.

Analgesic and anti-inflammatory actions of robenacoxib in acute joint inflammation in dog

The objectives of this study were to establish dose-response and blood concentration-response relationships for robenacoxib, a novel nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug with selectivity for inhibition of the cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 isoenzyme, in a canine model of synovitis. Acute synovitis of the stifle joint was induced by intra-articular injection of sodium urate crystals. Robenacoxib (0.25, 0.5, 1.0, 2.0 and 4.0 mg/kg), placebo and meloxicam (0.2 mg/kg) were administered subcutaneously (s.c.) 3 h after the urate crystals. Pharmacodynamic endpoints included data from forceplate analyses, clinical orthopaedic examinations and time course of inhibition of COX-1 and COX-2 in ex vivo whole blood assays. Blood was collected for pharmacokinetics. Robenacoxib produced dose-related improvement in weight-bearing, pain and swelling as assessed objectively by forceplate analysis (estimated ED(50) was 1.23 mg/kg for z peak force) and subjectively by clinical orthopaedic assessments. The analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects of robenacoxib were significantly superior to placebo (0.25-4 mg/kg robenacoxib) and were non-inferior to meloxicam (0.5-4 mg/kg robenacoxib). All dosages of robenacoxib produced significant dose-related inhibition of COX-2 (estimated ED(50) was 0.52 mg/kg) but no inhibition of COX-1. At a dosage of 1-2 mg/kg administered s.c., robenacoxib should be at least as effective as 0.2 mg/kg of meloxicam in suppressing acute joint pain and inflammation in dogs.

Zerstörung der Hornanlage beim Kalb – Literaturübersicht – das Schweizer Modell

In Deutschland werden jährlich die Hornanlagen von geschätzten 2,5 Mio. Kälbern zerstört. Dies ist bei Kälbern bis zum Alter von sechs Wochen ohne Anästhesie erlaubt, obwohl der Eingriff nachweislich starke Schmerzen verursacht. Der vorliegende Artikel fasst das aktuelle Wissen zum Thema zusammen und beschreibt die gesetzlichen Vorgaben anderer Länder zur Schmerzausschaltungspflicht. Weiterhin werden erstmals die Resultate einer aktuellen Umfrage bei allen Nutztierpraktikern (Rückantwortrate 40 %) in der Schweiz aus dem Jahr 2012 zur Delegation der Schmerzausschaltung an Tierhaltende vorgestellt. Auf Grund der aktuellen Literatur wird im Fall, dass auf die Zerstörung der Hornanlage nicht verzichtet werden kann, folgendes Vorgehen empfohlen: Die Hornanlage soll in den ersten 21 Lebenstagen des Kalbes, frühestens 10 Minuten nach Setzen einer Lokalanästhesie mit je 5 ml Procain 2 % pro Seite (Anästhesie des R. cornualis rechts und links) durch lokale Applikation von Hitze mit einem geeigneten Brennstab zerstört werden. Gleichzeitig zur Lokalanästhesie soll Meloxicam (einmalige Injektion von 0,5 mg/kg KGW; subkutan oder intravenös) appliziert werden. Die Einführung einer generellen Schmerzausschaltungsplicht bei der Zerstörung der Hornanlage von Kälbern ist aus Sicht des Tierwohls äußerst wünschenswert. In Deutschland ist heute die Schmerzausschaltung ohne Arzneimittelumwidmung möglich. Seit 2005 ist in der Schweiz die Schmerzausschaltung Pflicht, und seit 2008 besteht die Möglichkeit, die Anästhesie zur Zerstörung der Hornanlage bei Kälbern bis zum Alter von drei Wochen an den ausgebildeten Tierhalter zu delegieren. In allen landwirtschaftlichen Betrieben, welche von 52 % der tierärztlichen Praxen betreut werden, wird heute aus Sicht der antwortenden Nutztierpraktiker keine Zerstörung der Hornanlage bei Kälbern mehr ohne Anästhesie durchgeführt. Eine überwiegende Mehrheit dieser Tierärzte lehnt die Delegationsmöglichkeit der Schmerzausschaltung an Tierhalter nicht ab. Dies zeigt auf, dass dieses Modell eine erfolgversprechende Strategie darstellt, welche gegebenenfalls auch von anderen Ländern zur Umsetzung einer gesetzlich vorgeschriebenen Schmerzausschaltungspflicht in Betracht gezogen werden könnte.

Attitudes of Swiss veterinarians towards pain and analgesia in dogs and cats.

A survey was performed to evaluate the use of perioperative analgesia in dogs and cats by veterinary practitioners. Questions were grouped in seven sections recording personal data, education in veterinary analgesia, general ideology regarding treatment of perioperative pain, personal experience, assessment, and use of main analgesics to treat perioperative pain. A total of 258 received forms were analyzed. Based on 5 questions, 88 % showed excellent motivation to use perioperative pain therapy. The main reason declared for the use of analgesics was to relieve the patient from pain (64.1 %). Most veterinarians reported to routinely administer analgesics before (71 - 96 %) or after (2 - 23 %) surgery. The most used analgesics were non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (carprofen, meloxicam) and opioids (butorphanol, buprenorphine). Animals were routinely evaluated for pain after recovery. Only 43.8 % of veterinarians declared to use loco-regional anaesthesia. Swiss veterinarians appear to recognize well the need for perioperative pain treatment. However, weakness was shown in evaluating pain severity, distinguishing between opioid classes, and using loco-regional anaesthesia.