ANALGESIC EFFICACY OF SUBCUTANEOUS MELOXICAM IN RED-EARED SLIDER TURTLES (TRACHEMYS SCRIPTA)

). We hypothesized that subcutaneously administered 1 mg/kg meloxicam would significantly increase thermal hindlimb withdrawal latency for a greater time period than 0.4 mg/kg meloxicam. Twenty red-eared sliders were randomly assigned to one of three groups: 1) 0.9% saline (NaCl) (0.5 ml/kg), 2) 0.4 mg/kg meloxicam (Melox-0.4), and 3) 1 mg/kg meloxicam (Melox-1). Meloxicam or 0.9% NaCl was administered as a single SC injection in the right forelimb. Using the Hargreaves assay, a noxious radiant heat stimulus was applied to the plantar surface of both hindlimbs and withdrawal response to heat (heat latency) was measured at -0.25, 0.5, 2, 4, 8, and 24 hrs after treatment administration. Compared to the 0.9% NaCl group, Melox-0.4 significantly increased heat latency at 2 hrs while Melox-1 significantly increased heat latency at 0.5, 2, 4, and 8 hrs. The results of this study indicate that 1 mg/kg meloxicam SC significantly increased heat latency up to 8 hrs in red-eared sliders.