Resumen:
The objective of the study was to conduct a review of the pharmacological regulation and
pharmacokinetic parameters of firocoxib when administered orally or intravenously in
horses. A search for literature was done in SCOPUS and PubMed for studies that had to
evaluate the pharmacological regulation as well as the pharmacokinetic parameters of
firocoxib when administered in horses. The nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs have
analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antipyretics and antiendotoxic effects. The newly developed
is selective to COX-2 characterized by less adverse effects in veterinary patients when
administered at the recommended doses and do not exceed the established prescribed time.
Firocoxib is authorized by the Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of pain in
horses, while for humans there is still no approval. Controversy has arisen since the
administration of the same pharmaceutical presentation in horses and dogs have
pharmacokinetic differences between animal species. However, special attention must be
paid to pharmacokinetic differences between species, like in horses and dogs. In the case of
the horse, the dosage is 0.1 mg / kg in single dose or up to 14 days in oral paste formulation
and can keep maintained on the same concentration for a period of 7 to 14 days in oral
tablet formulation. Thorough knowledge of pharmacological regulations and
pharmacokinetic parameters, it allows the posology and effective application of firocoxib in
pathologies associated with chronic pain, avoiding the indiscriminate use by owners and in
some cases veterinarians, thus reducing the negative impacts on horse’s health.