A Comparative Pharmacokinetic Analysis of Oral and Subcutaneous Meloxicam Administered to Postpartum Dairy Cows

Daniel Shock,Merle Olson,Steven Roche

doi:10.3390/vetsci6030073

Abstract

The dairy industry needs evidence-based solutions to mitigate painful procedures and conditions in dairy cattle. The objective of this study was to compare the pharmacokinetic properties of orally versus subcutaneously administered meloxicam in early-lactation dairy cattle. The study was conducted at a commercial dairy herd in southwestern Ontario, Canada. Twelve postpartum cows were enrolled in the study, receiving either subcutaneous meloxicam (MET) at 0.5 mg/kg body weight (n = 6) or oral meloxicam (MOS) at a higher dose of 1.0 mg/kg body weight (n = 6) immediately following parturition. The predicted half-life (12.5 ± 2.0 vs. 28.5 ± 2.0 h), Cmax (1.59 ± 0.15 vs. 1.95 ± 0.16 μg/mL), Tmax (5.33 vs. 11.7 h), and AUC0→∞ (39.6 ± 7.4 vs. 115.6 ± 19 h * µg/mL) differed significantly between MET and MOS cows, respectively. After controlling for the treatment group, first lactation cows had a significantly higher half-life (4.1 ± 2.1 h), Cmax (0.56 ± 0.2 µg/mL), and AUC0→∞ (21.6 ± h * µg/mL) relative to second lactation or greater cows, respectively. Administration of meloxicam through the subcutaneous or oral route results in appreciable, dose-dependent systemic levels.

Highlights

As the dairy industry looks to ensure its long-term sustainability, animal welfare considerations need to be addressed to maintain and improve consumer support [1]
The pharmacokinetics of oral meloxicam in dairy cattle have been studied [12,13,14]; there have been no published reports evaluating the pharmacokinetics of a novel oral meloxicam product, meloxicam oral solution (MOS, 15 mg/mL, Alberta Veterinary Laboratories, Calgary, Canada)
Pharmacokinetics human meloxicam pills administered to lactating dairy cattle has been reported [15]

Summary

Introduction

As the dairy industry looks to ensure its long-term sustainability, animal welfare considerations need to be addressed to maintain and improve consumer support [1]. As an understanding of how pain is experienced in animals evolves, there are several common conditions and procedures in the dairy industry where pain has historically not been adequately controlled [2]. The dairy industry needs evidence-based solutions to mitigate painful procedures and conditions. The pharmacokinetics of oral meloxicam in dairy cattle have been studied [12,13,14]; there have been no published reports evaluating the pharmacokinetics of a novel oral meloxicam product, meloxicam oral solution (MOS, 15 mg/mL, Alberta Veterinary Laboratories, Calgary, Canada). MOS is approved as a single oral administration in Canada for the alleviation of pain and inflammation following surgical and band castration in cattle. The pharmacokinetics of subcutaneously administered meloxicam have been studied in goats [16], the authors are not aware of published data in cattle.

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion