Effects of carprofen or meloxicam on selected haemostatic variables in miniature pigs after orthopaedic surgery

Abstract

The aim of the study was to detect and compare the haemostatic variables and bleeding after 7-days administration of carprofen or meloxicam in clinically healthy miniature pigs. Twenty-one clinically healthy Göttingen miniature pigs were divided into 3 groups. Selected haemostatic variables such as platelet count, prothrombin time, activated partial thromboplastin time, thrombin time, fbrinogen, serum biochemical variables such as total protein, bilirubin, urea, creatinine, alkaline phosphatase, alanine aminotransferase and gamma-glutamyltransferase and haemoglobin, haematocrit, red blood cells, white blood cells and buccal mucosal bleeding time were assessed before and 7 days after daily intramuscular administration of saline (1.5 ml per animal, control group), carprofen (2 mg·kg -1) or meloxicam (0.1 mg·kg -1). In pigs receiving carprofen or meloxicam, the thrombin time was signifcantly increased (p < 0.01) compared to the control group. In animals receiving carprofen, serum urea and creatinine were signifcantly decreased, compared to the control (p < 0.01) or meloxicam (p < 0.05) groups. In pigs receiving meloxicam, serum urea was signifcantly decreased (p < 0.05) compared to the control group. Signifcant differences were not detected in other haemostatic, biochemical variables or bleeding time compared to other groups or to the pretreatment values. Intramuscular administration of carprofen or meloxicam in healthy miniature pigs for 7 days causes sporadic, but not clinically important changes of selected haemostatic variables. Therefore, we can recommend them for perioperative use, e.g. for their analgesic effects, in orthopaedic or other surgical procedures without increased bleeding.