Investigations on efficacy and tolerance of a subcutaneous and subsequent oral treatment of meloxicam in dogs

Efficacy and tolerance of a subcutaneous loading dose with subsequent oral treatment of meloxicam over seven days was rested in two different studies. In a placebo-controlled tolerance-study dy the single, the double and the three-fold recommended initial dosage and a subsequent oral treatment with the recommended maintenance dose was tested. Neither clinical side effects nor relevant changes in blood (haematology and clinical chemistry) were fou nd, In a controlled open field-trial, clinical efficacy was proven in dogs with acute locomotor disorders under field circumstances. In this trial dog s received initially either oral or subcutaneous meloxicam. In both groups treatment was continued with the oral suspension. During this week of treat ment, side effects were observed in respectively 1.5% and 1.6% of the dogs. Clinical efficacy was estimated excellent or goon in respectively 87.9% an d 95.3% of the cases and therefore was slightly better assessed in the grou p which received an initial injection of meloxicam.