The animal health company Merial has announced the United States availability of Previcox™ (firocoxib), a new nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) licensed for pain management associated with canine osteoarthritis.

"Previcox gives veterinarians the latest option for canine chronic pain management," says Zack Mills, DVM, director of Veterinary Services, Merial. "It provides fast pain relief, and outstanding improvement of lameness in a convenient, flavored tablet."

Developed specifically for companion animals, Previcox is available in a once-a-day dose that provides therapeutic pain relief for 24 hours after treatment. Dogs treated with Previcox in dose confirmation studies showed improvement in lameness within three hours compared to untreated controls, and returned to almost normal function after seven hours.

"In field studies with dogs as old as 19 years, Previcox provided pain relief for osteoarthritis with fewer adverse events than reference products, including fewer gastrointestinal effects as reported by owners and veterinarians," says Mills. "These studies demonstrated an outstanding level of efficacy and safety in a fast-acting formulation."

PREVICOX is a prescription-only medication available for dogs under the care of a licensed veterinarian.

As with all drugs in this class, Previcox may be associated with gastrointestinal, kidney or liver side effects. These are usually mild, but may be serious. Pet owners should discontinue therapy and contact their veterinarian immediately if side effects occur. Evaluation for pre-existing conditions and regular monitoring are recommended for pets on any medication, including Previcox. Use with other NSAIDs, corticosteroids or medications that could be potentially toxic to the kidneys should be avoided.