ABSTRACT
Nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are widely used for the reduction of inflammation, fever, and pain in both large and small animal species; however, none of these drugs are approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in food-producing animals. Antiinflammatory, antipyretic, and analgesic effects of NSAIDs are mediated by their interference with the action or production of inflammatory mediators. In contrast, the steroidal antiinflammatory compounds act by inhibiting the liberation of free fatty acids, such as arachidonic acid, from cellular phospholipids. The reversible binding of oxyphenbutazone to cyclooxygenase is believed to be responsible for the antiinflammatory action of the drug, although phenylbutazone itself binds irreversibly to the enzyme. Salicylic acid is the active component in all of the salicylate drugs but it is too irritating to be used by any route other than topical. In addition, it is thought that both drugs act by competitively binding to prostaglandin receptor sites.
