DOI
https://doi.org/10.18849/ve.v4i2.215Abstract
PICO question
In domestic rabbits, how does 1 mg/kg of oral meloxicam compare with 0.2 mg/kg of oral meloxicam for significant changes in pain behaviour, and kidney and liver biochemical analytes?
Clinical bottom line
Based on current available evidence, oral meloxicam at a dosage of 0.2 mg/kg daily when used as the sole analgesic does not provide adequate pain relief in rabbits. A dosage of 1 mg/kg daily is more efficacious, but it is unclear whether this is sufficient for postoperative pain management. The literature supports the safety of meloxicam at both 0.2 mg/kg and 1 mg/kg daily for healthy rabbits, based on liver and kidney biochemical analytes.
Five studies have been reviewed, which are a mix of randomised controlled trials and prospective clinical trials.
References
Mayer J, Brown S, Mitchell MA. Survey to investigate owners׳ perceptions and experiences of pet rabbit husbandry and health. J Exot Pet Med 2017;26:123–131. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1053/j.jepm.2017.01.021
Busch U, Schmid J, Heinzel G et al. Pharmacokinetics of meloxicam in animals and the relevance to humans. Drug Metab Dispos 1998;26:576–584. http://dmd.aspetjournals.org/content/26/6/576.long
Carpenter JW, Pollock CG, Koch DE et al. Single and multiple-dose pharmacokinetics of meloxicam after oral administration to the rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus). J Zoo Wildl Med 2009;40:601–606. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1638/2007-0115.1
Cooper CS, Metcalf-Pate KA, Barat CE et al. Comparison of side effects between buprenorphine and meloxicam used postoperatively in Dutch Belted Rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus). J Am Assoc Lab Anim Sci 2009;48:279–285. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2696831/
Delk KW, Carpenter JW, KuKanich B et al. Pharmacokinetics of meloxicam administered orally to rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) for 29 days. Am J Vet Res 2014;75:195–199. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.2460/ajvr.75.2.195
Fredholm DV, Carpenter JW, KuKanich B et al. Pharmacokinetics of meloxicam in rabbits after oral administration of single and multiple doses. Am J Vet Res 2013;74:636–641. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.2460/ajvr.74.4.636
Goldschlager GB, Gillespie VL, Palme R et al. Effects of multimodal analgesia with low-dose buprenorphine and meloxicam on fecal glucocorticoid metabolites after surgery in New Zealand white rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus). J Am Assoc Lab Anim Sci 2013;52:571–576. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3784663/
Leach MC, Allweiler S, Richardson C et al. Behavioural effects of ovariohysterectomy and oral administration of meloxicam in laboratory housed rabbits. Res Vet Sci 2009;87:336–347. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rvsc.2009.02.001
Turner PV, Chen CH, Taylor MW. Pharmacokinetics of meloxicam in rabbits after single and repeat oral dosing. Comp Med 2006;56:63–67. https://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/aalas/cm/2006/00000056/00000001/art00009%3bjsessionid=4b77h4ann1r0e.x-ic-live-01
Holzer P. Treatment of opioid-induced gut dysfunction. Expert Opin Investig Drugs 2007;16:181–194. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1517/13543784.16.2.181
Luna SPL, Basílio AC, Steagall PVM et al. Evaluation of adverse effects of long-term oral administration of carprofen, etodolac, flunixin meglumine, ketoprofen, and meloxicam in dogs. Am J Vet Res 2007;68:258–264. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.2460/ajvr.68.3.258
Wood JD, Galligan JJ. Function of opioids in the enteric nervous system. Neurogastroenterol Motil 2004;16:17–28. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1743-3150.2004.00554.x
Harcourt-Brown F. Critical and emergency care of rabbits. Veterinary Nursing Journal 2011;26:443–456. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.2045-0648.2011.00119.x
Fisher P, Graham J. Rabbits. In: Carpenter JW, editor. Exotic Animal Formulary. 5 edn. Elsevier, St Louis, 2017:708–760.
Costantino G, Montano N, Casazza G. When should we change our clinical practice based on the results of a clinical study? The hierarchy of evidence. Intern Emerg Med 2015;10:745–747. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11739-015-1230-8
Brown SJ. Evidence-based nursing: the research-practice connection. Jones and Bartlett Publishers, Sudbury, Mass, 2008.
Montoya L, Ambros L, Kreil V et al. A pharmacokinetic comparison of meloxicam and ketoprofen following oral administration to healthy dogs. Vet Res Commun 2004;28:415–428. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1023/B:VERC.0000034995.81994.49
Hanft G, Türck D, Scheuerer S et al. Meloxicam oral suspension: a treatment alternative to solid meloxicam formulations. Inflamm Res 2001;50:35–37. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/PL00000219
Wallace JL. How do NSAIDs cause ulcer disease? Best Pract Res CL GE 2000;14:147–159. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1053/bega.1999.0065
Eshar D, Weese JS. Molecular analysis of the microbiota in hard feces from healthy rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) medicated with long term oral meloxicam. BMC Vet Res 2014;10:62-62. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/1746-6148-10-62
Kay-Mugford P, Benn SJ, LaMarre J et al. In vitro effects of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs on cyclooxygenase activity in dogs. Am J Vet Res 2000;61:802–810. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.2460/ajvr.2000.61.802
Pairet M, van Ryn J, Schierok H et al. Differential inhibition of cyclooxygenases-1 and -2 by meloxicam and its 4′-isomer. Inflamm Res 1998;47:270–276. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s000110050329
Salhab AS, Gharaibeh MN, Shomaf MS et al. Meloxicam inhibits rabbit ovulation. Contraception 2001;63:329–333. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0010-7824(01)00207-4
Davies N, Skjodt N. Clinical pharmacokinetics of meloxicam: a cyclo-oxygenase-2 preferential nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug. Clin Pharmacokinet 1999;36:115–126. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.2165/00003088-199936020-00003
Lee VH, Hui HW, Robinson JR. Corneal metabolism of pilocarpine in pigmented rabbits. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 1980;19:210–213. https://iovs.arvojournals.org/article.aspx?articleid=2159095
Depelchin B, Bloden S, Michaux C et al. Effects of age, sex and breed on antipyrine disposition in calves. Res Vet Sci 1988;44:135–139. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0034-5288(18)30828-2
Hay Kraus B, Greenblatt D, Venkatakrishnan K et al. Evidence for propofol hydroxylation by cytochrome P4502B11 in canine liver microsomes: breed and gender differences. Xenobiotica 2000;30:575–588. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/004982500406417
Busch U, Engelhardt G. Distribution of [14C]meloxicam in joints of rats with adjuvant arthritis. Drugs Exp Clin Res 1990;16:49-52. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1698136
Johnston M. Clinical approaches to analgesia in ferrets and rabbits. Semin Avian Exot Pet Med 2005;14:229–235. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1053/j.saep.2005.09.003
Martin RM, Biswas P, Mann RD. The incidence of adverse events and risk factors for upper gastrointestinal disorders associated with meloxicam use amongst 19087 patients in general practice in England: cohort study. Brit J Clin Pharmaco 2000;50:35–42. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2125.2000.00229.x
Plumb DC. Plumb's veterinary drug handbook. 6th edn. PharmaVet, Ames, Iowa, 2008.
Yue Y, Xiao-yan C, San-ming L et al. Pharmacokinetic studies of meloxicam following oral and transdermal administration in Beagle dogs. Acta Pharmacol Sin 2009;30:1060–1064. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/aps.2009.73
Volait-Rosset L, Pignon C, Manou M et al. Surgical management of a calcaneus fracture in a pet rabbit. J Exot Pet Med 2019;29:110–114. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1053/j.jepm.2018.11.003
Bulliot C, Flenghi L, Levrier C. Lingual sarcoma and its treatment with partial glossectomy in a pet rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus). J Exot Pet Med 2019;29:70–75. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1053/j.jepm.2018.08.006
Cikanek SJ, Eshar D, Nau M et al. Diagnosis and surgical treatment of a transitional cell carcinoma in the bladder apex of a pet rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus). J Exot Pet Med 2018;27:113–117. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1053/j.jepm.2018.02.004
Palme R, Rettenbacher S, Touma C et al. Stress hormones in mammals and birds: comparative aspects regarding metabolism, excretion, and noninvasive measurement in fecal samples. Ann N Y Acad Sci 2005;1040:162–171. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1196/annals.1327.021
License
Copyright (c) 2019 Katherine Nield, Merran Govendir
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Veterinary Evidence uses the Creative Commons copyright Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. That means users are free to copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format. Remix, transform, and build upon the material for any purpose, even commercially - with the appropriate citation.
Most read articles by the same author(s)
- Chun Fung Wong, Merran Govendir, Can dog appeasing pheromone ameliorate stress behaviours associated with anxiety in mature domestic dogs? , Veterinary Evidence: Vol. 6 No. 4 (2021): The fourth issue of 2021
- Lok Yee Stephanie Wong, Merran Govendir, Comparison of the effect of marine-derived omega-3 fatty acids (n-3 FAs) as an adjunct to a non-steroidal inflammatory drug (NSAID) therapy vs NSAID therapy alone, for dogs with osteoarthritis , Veterinary Evidence: Vol. 7 No. 1 (2022): The first issue of 2022
- Nicole Echeverri, Merran Govendir, Does the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) fluoxetine modify canine anxiety related behaviour? , Veterinary Evidence: Vol. 7 No. 4 (2022): The fourth issue of 2022