Pharmacokinetic Parameters of Oral Firocoxib, Oral Meloxicam, and Transdermal Flunixin in Meat Type Goats

The objective of this study was to determine and compare the pharmacokinetics of oral firocoxib, oral meloxicam, and transdermal flunixin (TD) in 44 adult, male castrated, crossbred goats. Pharmacokinetic (PK) analysis was performed for each goat in each phase using non-compartmental methods with descriptive statistics reported. Mean plasma half-life (T_1/2 (h)) for oral (PO) administration of firocoxib at varying dosages in meat type castrated goats was reported at 0.5 mg/kg, 1.0 mg/kg, and 2.0 mg/kg at 9.1 (range 6.9-13.4), 10.2 (range 6.4-14.7) and 9.2 (range 6.8-12.8), respectively. For oral meloxicam, mean plasma T_1/2 at doses of 1.0 mg/kg, 2.0 mg/kg, and 3.0 mg/kg were 13.3 (range: 10.1-22.3), 13.1 (range: 12-24), and 11.7 (range: 8.3-20.5) hours, respectively. Transdermal flunixin showed mean plasma T_1/2 of 16.5 (range: 10.7-62) at 3.3 mg/kg, 22.0 (range: 16.6-67.4) at 4.2 mg/kg, and 17.8 (range: 7.4-56.3) at 5.0 mg/kg. These results highlight significant variability in drug disposition and suggest that further research is warranted to optimize dosing regimens for oral firocoxib, oral meloxicam, and transdermal flunixin in goats.