Orris

Which is good between melonex and rubinocoxib after 6 hrs of charstation of cat

Reading File
Finding Sources
Searching PubMed

robenacoxib AND meloxicam AND cats

Searching the Web

robenacoxib vs meloxicam cats ovariohysterectomy castration postoperative analgesia dosing

Reading Article

PMID: 37494365

Reading Article

PMID: 22227226

Reading Article

PMID: 38235901

I'm assuming you mean meloxicam (Melonex) versus robenacoxib (Onsior) for pain after castration of a cat. Neither is clearly better. Which one to use depends mostly on what the cat already received and on its kidney and hydration status. The textbook library had nothing on this, so the answer comes from PubMed and a veterinary source.
What the evidence shows
  • Both are licensed for this. Robenacoxib is FDA-approved for pain after orthopaedic surgery, ovariohysterectomy and castration in cats. Meloxicam is approved as a single SC injection for postoperative pain in cats (Today's Veterinary Practice).
  • Pharmacology differs. Robenacoxib is highly COX-2 selective and has a short plasma half-life. Meloxicam is preferentially COX-2 selective and has a longer half-life, so it stays in the blood longer (same source).
  • The head-to-head trials disagree.
    • A 2012 randomised trial found robenacoxib (2 mg/kg SC) gave better clinician-scored pain control than meloxicam (0.3 mg/kg SC) at 3, 8 and 22 h after recovery. It also caused less pain at the injection site. It was mostly ovariectomies, and the authors include the manufacturer's staff.
    • A 2023 trial in spayed queens used owner pain scores at day 3. Pain scores and abnormal behaviours were higher in the robenacoxib group than the meloxicam group. The authors concluded both work, and that a routine post-operative NSAID may not be needed for every cat.
  • Most trial data are from spays, not castrations. Castration is a less painful procedure.
  • Timing and kidneys. A 2024 study found no drug or timing effect on renal markers. One cat given meloxicam at induction had suspected IRIS grade II acute kidney injury. Anaesthesia itself activates the renin-angiotensin system, which is why NSAIDs should be given only to cats that are well hydrated and normotensive.
What I would do at 6 hours after surgery
  1. If an NSAID was already given before or during surgery, don't give a second one now. Meloxicam lasts about 24 h. Robenacoxib is dosed once daily.
  2. If no NSAID was given, either can be started now, provided the cat is:
    • fully recovered from anaesthesia
    • eating and drinking
    • well hydrated
    • without kidney, liver or GI disease, and not on steroids or other NSAIDs
  3. Choose based on the cat.
    • Robenacoxib suits a short, predictable course. It is the more COX-1-sparing option, though that benefit isn't proven in cats. It has a licensed short course of up to 3 days.
    • Meloxicam gives longer cover from one dose. In the US, repeated meloxicam in cats carries a kidney-safety warning, so follow the label for your country strictly.
  4. Add an opioid such as buprenorphine if the cat still looks painful. An NSAID alone may not be enough.
I haven't given doses because they depend on the product and your country's label. The trials used meloxicam 0.2 to 0.3 mg/kg SC once and robenacoxib 2 mg/kg SC once. Confirm doses with your vet or the product insert.
If you tell me whether an NSAID was given pre-op, the cat's age and hydration, and which country you're in, I can narrow this down.
This is a shared conversation. Sign in to Orris to start your own chat.