Pharmacokinetics and Safety of Intramuscular Meloxicam in Zebra Finches (Taeniopygia guttata). Academic Article uri icon

Overview

abstract

  • Meloxicam is the most frequently used NSAID in birds; however, its elimination t1/2 is highly variable among species. Because zebra finches that require analgesia could benefit from receiving meloxicam, we performed a pharmacokinetic study involving a single intramuscular dose of 1 or 2 mg/kg. Data analysis showed that Cmax, t1/2, and elimination rate constants were not significantly different between the 2 doses. In contrast, Cmax for 1- and 2-mg/kg doses of meloxicam approached a significant difference, and those for AUC0-∞ were significantly different. Importantly, a plasma concentration of 3500 ng/mL, considered a target level for meloxicam in other avian species, was maintained for approximately 9.5 h in finches that received 2 mg/kg, which was 4 h longer than in birds given 1 mg/kg. Both doses reached low plasma concentrations by 12 h after administration. Subsequently, 8 total doses of 1 or 2 mg/kg were administered to birds at 12-h intervals; these regimens caused no significant changes in select biochemical analytes or the Hct of meloxicam-treated birds. In addition, histopathologic changes for injection sites, kidney, liver, proventriculus, and ventriculus were minimal and similar between control and experimental groups after the multiple doses. These results suggest a 12-h or more frequent dosing interval is likely needed in zebra finches and that meloxicam at 1 or 2 mg/kg IM twice daily for 4 d is safe. The higher dose might provide longer analgesia compared with the lower dose, but a pharmacodynamics evaluation of meloxicam in zebra finches is needed to confirm analgesic efficacy.

publication date

  • August 28, 2019

Research

keywords

  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal
  • Finches
  • Meloxicam

Identity

PubMed Central ID

  • PMC6774456

Scopus Document Identifier

  • 85074563598

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

  • 10.2460/ajvr.77.12.1311

PubMed ID

  • 31462348

Additional Document Info

volume

  • 58

issue

  • 5