Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in domestic animals: II Disposition and clinical indications.

Most non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID's) have similar absorption and disposition characteristics. Absorption after oral administration is good, extensive plasma protein binding results in a small volume of distribution, and excretion of metabolites occurs mainly in the urine after hepatic biotransformation of the active drug. The main clinical indications for use of NSAID's are anti-inflammatory, analgesic and antipyretic, and an increasing list of new indications are continually being found. The disposition, pharmacokinetics and clinical indications of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in domestic animals are reviewed.