The Potential of Selective COX-2 Inhibitor Mavacoxib for Extended Analgesia in Sheep Husbandry

Routine husbandry procedures in sheep induce significant and prolonged pain and inflammation, which often exceeds the duration of action of current commercially available analgesics. Mavacoxib is a selective cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitor approved for canine osteoarthritis treatment. With a half-life exceeding two weeks in dogs, mavacoxib may represent a candidate for investigating whether extended-duration analgesia can be achieved in sheep and more closely aligned with the duration of post-procedural inflammation and pain. This article examines the physiological and behavioural indicators of sheep pain, the limitations of current analgesic strategies, and the pharmacological rationale for mavacoxib as a candidate for pain management in sheep. Further research into its pharmacokinetics, efficacy, and safety in sheep is essential to improve welfare and overcome practical barriers to analgesia in extensive grazing systems.