What anti-inflammatory drugs are used in animals?

Anti-inflammatory medications are used in veterinary medicine to reduce inflammation, pain, swelling, or fever associated with conditions such as osteoarthritis, injury, surgery, inflammatory disease, and certain infections.

The two major classes are:

➤ 1. Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs)
NSAIDs reduce inflammation and pain mainly by affecting cyclooxygenase pathways and the production or activity of prostaglandins.

Examples used in veterinary medicine include:
carprofen, meloxicam, firocoxib, robenacoxib, flunixin meglumine, ketoprofen

However, not every NSAID is approved for every animal species or indication. For example, FDA-approved veterinary NSAID uses differ between dogs, cats, horses, cattle, and pigs.

Veterinary NSAIDs can also cause adverse effects, particularly involving the gastrointestinal tract, kidneys, or liver. Their use should therefore follow veterinary assessment and applicable product labeling.

➤ 2. Corticosteroids
Corticosteroids such as prednisone, prednisolone, and dexamethasone can provide strong anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive effects.

They may be used for conditions such as:
• allergic and inflammatory disease
• immune-mediated disorders
• certain dermatological conditions
• respiratory inflammation
• other conditions where corticosteroid therapy is clinically appropriate

Corticosteroids and NSAIDs have different mechanisms, benefits, risks, and clinical uses and should not be treated as interchangeable drug classes.

Drug selection depends on the species, diagnosis, age, concurrent medications, kidney or liver status, reproductive status, and other individual risk factors.

For food-producing animals, veterinarians and producers must also consider whether a drug is approved for the species and indication and comply with applicable withdrawal or milk-discard periods.

AdvaCare Pharma manufactures a range of veterinary anti-inflammatory products for international animal-health markets.