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Home / Equine Research Bank / Can Vet J / Comparative efficacy of oral meloxicam and phenylbutazone in...
The Canadian veterinary journal = La revue veterinaire canadienne2017; 58(2); 157-167;

Comparative efficacy of oral meloxicam and phenylbutazone in 2 experimental pain models in the horse.

Abstract: The efficacy of oral phenylbutazone [PBZ; 4.4 mg/kg body weight (BW), q12h], a non-selective non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), and oral meloxicam (MXM; 0.6 mg/kg BW, q24h), a COX-2 selective NSAID, were evaluated in 2 experimental pain models in horses: the adjustable heart bar shoe (HBS) model, primarily representative of mechanical pain, and the lipopolysaccharide-induced synovitis (SYN) model, primarily representative of inflammatory pain. In the HBS model, PBZ reduced multiple indicators of pain compared with the placebo and MXM. Meloxicam did not reduce indicators of pain relative to the placebo. In the SYN model, MXM and PBZ reduced increases in carpal skin temperature compared to the placebo. Meloxicam reduced lameness scores and lameness-induced changes in head movement compared to the placebo and PBZ. Phenylbutazone reduced lameness-induced change in head movement compared to the placebo. Overall, PBZ was more effective than MXM at reducing pain in the HBS model, while MXM was more effective at reducing pain in the SYN model at the oral doses used. L’efficacité de la phénylbutazone orale [PBZ; 4,4 mg/kg poids corporel (PC), q12h], d’un anti-inflammatoire non stéroïdien (AINS) non sélectif, et du méloxicam oral (MXM; 0,6 mg/kg PC, q24h), d’un AINS COX-2 sélectif, ont été évalués dans deux modèles de douleur expérimentaux chez des chevaux : le modèle du fer en cœur ajustable (HBS), qui représente surtout la douleur mécanique, et le modèle de la synovite induite par le lipopolysaccharide (SYN), qui représente principalement la douleur inflammatoire. Dans le modèle HBS, PBZ a réduit plusieurs indicateurs de douleur comparativement au placebo et au MXM. Le méloxicam n’a pas réduit les indicateurs de douleur par rapport au placebo. Dans le modèle SYN, MXM et PBZ ont réduit les hausses de la température de la peau carpienne comparativement au placebo. Le méloxicam a réduit les scores de boiterie et les changements induits par la boiterie dans le mouvement de la tête comparativement au placebo et à PBZ. La phénylbutazone a réduit le changement du mouvement de la tête induit par la boiterie comparativement au placebo. Dans l’ensemble, PBZ était plus efficace que MXM pour réduire la douleur dans le modèle HBS, tandis que MXM était plus efficace pour réduire la douleur dans le modèle SYN aux doses orales utilisées.(Traduit par Isabelle Vallières).
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Publication Date: 2017-02-22 PubMed ID: 28216685PubMed Central: PMC5234315
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  • Comparative Study
  • Journal Article

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

This research article evaluates the pain-relief efficacy of two drugs, phenylbutazone and meloxicam, in horses, using two different pain models: mechanical pain and inflammatory pain. The study showed that phenylbutazone was more effective in reducing mechanical pain, whereas meloxicam was more effective in reducing inflammatory pain.

Research Method Overview

  • The scientists tested the efficacy of two drugs, phenylbutazone (PBZ), a non-selective non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), and meloxicam (MXM), a COX-2 selective NSAID, in horses.
  • The dosage for phenylbutazone was 4.4 mg/kg body weight, administered every 12 hours. The oral meloxicam was given at 0.6 mg/kg body weight, every 24 hours.
  • The drugs were evaluated in two experimental pain models in horses: the adjustable heart bar shoe (HBS) model, representing mechanical pain, and the lipopolysaccharide-induced synovitis (SYN) model, representing inflammatory pain.

Results from the Adjustable Heart Bar Shoe Model

  • In the adjustable heart bar shoe (HBS) model, which primarily evaluates mechanical pain, phenylbutazone reduced several pain indicators compared to the placebo and meloxicam.
  • Contrarily, meloxicam did not demonstrate any substantial reduction in pain indicators when compared to the placebo.
  • Thus, phenylbutazone was determined to be more effective at reducing pain in horses in the HBS model.

Results from the Lipopolysaccharide-induced Synovitis Model

  • In the SYN model, primarily designed to assess inflammatory pain, both meloxicam and phenylbutazone reduced skin temperature increases compared to the placebo, which is indicative of their anti-inflammatory effects.
  • Meloxicam, in particular, reduced lameness scores, and lameness-induced changes in head movement compared to both the placebo and phenylbutazone.
  • Although phenylbutazone also reduced lameness-induced head movement change compared to the placebo, meloxicam illustrated superior efficiency in this model.

Overall Results

  • By evaluating the results from both models, the researchers concluded that phenylbutazone was more effective than meloxicam at reducing mechanical pain, as shown in the HBS model.
  • Contrarily, meloxicam was found to be more effective at reducing inflammatory pain, as shown in the SYN model, when administered orally at the doses used in this study.

Mercifully, this research provides important guidance for equine veterinarians in selecting the most effective pain management strategy for horses, depending on the nature and source of the pain.

Cite This Article

APA
Banse H, Cribb AE. (2017). Comparative efficacy of oral meloxicam and phenylbutazone in 2 experimental pain models in the horse. Can Vet J, 58(2), 157-167.

Publication

The Canadian veterinary journal = La revue veterinaire canadienne
ISSN: 0008-5286
NlmUniqueID: 0004653
Country: Canada
Language: English
Volume: 58
Issue: 2
Pages: 157-167

Researcher Affiliations

Banse, Heidi
  • Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, 3280 Hospital Drive, Calgary, Alberta T2N 4Z6.
Cribb, Alastair E
  • Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, 3280 Hospital Drive, Calgary, Alberta T2N 4Z6.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / administration & dosage
  • Female
  • Horses
  • Lameness, Animal / drug therapy
  • Lipopolysaccharides / administration & dosage
  • Male
  • Meloxicam
  • Pain / drug therapy
  • Pain / veterinary
  • Phenylbutazone / administration & dosage
  • Skin Temperature / drug effects
  • Synovitis / drug therapy
  • Synovitis / veterinary
  • Thiazines / administration & dosage
  • Thiazoles / administration & dosage
  • Treatment Outcome

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Citations

This article has been cited 8 times.
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