Investigation of the specific toxicity of an analgesic agent for wild ungulates based on meloxicam

Laboratory studies were conducted to determine the subacute toxicity of the veterinary drug Loksidev on white rats and dogs. The meloxicam-based Loxidev drug is used for diseases of the European doe animal treatment system for non-infectious diseases of the musculoskeletal system (acute aseptic myositis to reduce the symptoms of lameness and inflammation), as well as for diseases of the respiratory organs (in case of appropriate antibiotic therapy). Red deer: treatment of animals for non-infectious diseases of the musculoskeletal system (arthritis of the metatarsal joint to reduce symptoms of lameness and inflammation). When administered subcutaneously to rats, the drug Loxidev (for injections), under the conditions of a subacute toxicological experiment, in doses of 0.03; 0.15 and 0.3 ml/kg of body weight, does not cause hemo-, hepato- and nephrotoxic effects on the body of laboratory animals. The exception was the tendency to decrease the concentration of total hemoglobin and the hematocrit indicator, as well as a probable decrease (P < 0.05) in the number of erythrocytes and leukocytes by 6.5 and 7.2 %, respectively, relative to the control in the blood and an increase (P < 0.05) enzymatic activity of ALT and AST and concentration of urea in blood serum of rats, after three days of administration of the drug, at a dose of 0.30 mg/kg of body weight by 11.8; 11.0 and 10.3 %, respectively. However, after 7 days, after stopping the administration of the drug, these indicators probably did not differ from the control. Subcutaneous administration of the drug Loxidev (for injections) to dogs in doses of 0.03; 0.15 and 0.3 ml/kg of body weight for 3 days generally does not affect the clinical and biochemical parameters of the blood and does not cause hepatotoxic and nephrotoxic effects on the animal body, under the conditions of a subacute toxicological experiment. The exception was the tendency to decrease the concentration of total hemoglobin, the hematocrit index and the number of erythrocytes, as well as a probable decrease (P < 0.05) in the number of leukocytes by 6.6 %, respectively, relative to the control in the blood and an increase (P < 0.05) in enzymatic activity ALT and AST and the concentration of urea in the blood serum of dogs, after three days of administration of the drug at a dose of 0.30 mg/kg of body weight by 19.4; 19.3 and 14.5 %, respectively, but 7 days after stopping the administration of the drug, these indicators probably did not differ from the control. Further studies will be the next stage of pre-registration tests aimed at studying the irritant effect, allergenic properties of “Loksidev”, which is mandatory material of the “Safety and residue studies” section of the dossier for this veterinary drug.