Effects of flunixin meglumine, firocoxib and meloxicam in equines after castration

Abstract “Aimed” evaluate and compare the efficacy of flunixin meglumine (FM), firocoxib (FX) and meloxicam (MX) after castration of horses. Thirty horses were submitted to open castration and divided into three groups (n = 10) depending on the anti-inflammatory administered: Group I (FM, 1.1 mg.kg1, IV, SID, 5 days); Group II (FX, 0.1 mg.kg1, IV, SID, 5 days) and Group III (MX, 0.6 mg.kg1, IV, SID, 5 days). Clinical, behavioral, hematological parameters and of the peritoneal fluid (PF) were evaluated before (Day 0) and 1, 2, 3, 5 and 7 days afterward. In the postoperative, scores of limb rigidity and prepuce edema of animals GII and GIII were greater than of GI. Tachycardia was observed in the horses of GII and GIII and hyperthermia in GIII. Increase in the number of leukocytes, neutrophils and monocytes without exceeding the reference values and hyperfibrinogenemia were observed in the animals of GI (D7), GII (D1-D7) and GIII (D7). There was reduction in serum protein after castration, together with an increase of this in the PF of the animals of the three groups. The PF on D0 was straw-yellow and limpid, became reddish and cloudy on D1, and then gradually moved toward its normal color on the ensuing days, but without returning to normal on D7 in any of the groups. The results showed that castration triggers significant clinical and laboratory changes and that FM, FX and MX are equally effective in controlling pain and inflammation in horses after castration, however, FM was more advantageous.