Pharmacokinetics of single and multiple oral doses of meloxicam in foals less than 6 weeks of age.

Selective COX-2 inhibitors target the cyclo-oxygenase iso-enzyme associated with pain and inflammation,rather than the constitutively expressed enzyme (COX-1) which is associated with protective or beneficial effects of prostaglandins. For this reason,it has been hypothesised that selective COX-2 inhibitors may be safer than non-selective nonsteroidal anti inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Meloxicam is a potent NSAID that has been shown to be an effective analgesic and anti-inflammatory in adult horses following oral administration. The current study reports preliminary findings from a pilot study to determine pharmacokinetics of meloxicam in foals less than 6 weeks of age.