PHARMACOKINETICS OF FLUNIXIN MEGLUMINE IN BEEF CATTLE AFTER SUBCUTANEOUS AND INTRAMUSCULAR ADMINISTRATION

Flunixin is a potent and effective non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agent that is labeled for use in cattle only after intravenous (IV) administration. Unfortunately, IV administration is difficult and time consuming in cattle, and it is almost never done in the field, instead flunixin is usually dosed by intramuscular (IM) or subcutaneous administration (SC). The practice of IM and SC flunixin administration in cattle is thought to contribute to the increasing numbers of violative residues found in edible tissues of beef cattle, because the release and elimination of flunixin from fascia and muscle is believed to be delayed after IM and SC dosing. Several studies have been published on the pharmacokinetics of flunixin after IV dosing, but studies on the pharmacokinetics after SC or IM dosing in beef cattle are lacking. Thus, the objective of this project is to determine the pharmacokinetics of flunixin meglumine in serum of beef cattle after extra-label administration. Results will provide an insight in to the longevity of flunixin in tissues after exra-label administration.