Population pharmacokinetics of a single oral dose of gabapentin identifies rapid plasma clearance in rehabilitated Pacific harbor seal pups
- Pharmacokinetics
- Medicine
Abstract
Objective
Determine the pharmacokinetic parameters of a single dose of gabapentin administered orally in healthy weaned Pacific harbor seal (HS) pups (Phoca vitulina richardii).
Methods
In the spring of 2023, rehabilitated HS pups were enrolled in this pharmacokinetic study. Seals were administered 10 mg/kg of gabapentin orally in a fish. A sparse sampling model was employed to collect blood samples from 0.25 to 48 hours after drug administration. Plasma drug concentrations were determined using liquid chromatographytandem mass spectrometry. Pharmacokinetic parameters were determined using noncompartmental analysis for sparse data.
Results
15 HSs were included in this study. The mean peak plasma concentration was 7,669.4 ng/mL, the mean time to peak plasma concentration was 1 hour, the mean area under the concentration-versus-time curve from time 0 to infinity was 23,811.8 h·ng/mL, and the mean terminal half-life was 1.9 hours. No adverse effects were observed in any HSs.
Conclusions
The plasma concentration of gabapentin that confers analgesia is not known in veterinary species. During this study, mean gabapentin concentrations exceeded the concentration estimated to treat neuropathic pain in humans only at 1 hour.
Clinical Relevance
Gabapentin was rapidly absorbed and eliminated in HSs, indicating that higher dosages and/or frequent dosing of gabapentin may be needed to maintain targeted plasma concentrations in young HSs. Additional studies to investigate the clinical efficacy of gabapentin in veterinary species are warranted, and clinical discretion should be used when applying these results to patients outside of the specific demographic group studied here.
Rooney, T.A., Knych, H., Peters, M., Gjeltema, J. and Field, C., 2025. Population pharmacokinetics of a single oral dose of gabapentin identifies rapid plasma clearance in rehabilitated Pacific harbor seal pups (Phoca vitulina richardii). American Journal of Veterinary Research, 1(aop), pp.1-6.
Meet The Experts
{"image":"\/People\/Portrait\/cara-field.jpg","alt":"Cara Field","title":"Cara Field","text":"Director, Conservation Medicine","link_url":"https:\/\/www.marinemammalcenter.org\/person\/cara-field","link_text":"Read Bio"}
Related Publications
{"image":"\/Animals\/Patients\/California sea lions\/cropped-images\/csl-by-bill-hunnewell-c-the-marine-mammal-center-3-2-318-2819-2252-1600897445.jpg","alt":"California sea lion","title":"Establishing Dosing Requirements for an Anti-Fungal Medication in Young Sea Lions","link_url":"https:\/\/www.marinemammalcenter.org\/publications\/establishing-dosing-requirements-for-an-anti-fungal-medication-in-young-sea-lions","label":"Research Paper"}
Establishing Dosing Requirements for an Anti-Fungal Medication in Young Sea Lions
Read More{"image":"\/Animals\/Patients\/Steller sea lions\/2021\/cropped-images\/ssl-colby-by-bill-hunnewell-c-the-marine-mammal-center-522-282-2488-1943-1625764944.jpg","alt":"Steller sea lion Colby","title":"Field Anesthesia of Juvenile Steller Sea Lions Using Inhalation Anesthesia","link_url":"https:\/\/www.marinemammalcenter.org\/publications\/field-anesthesia-of-juvenile-steller-sea-lions-using-inhalation-anesthesia","label":"Research Paper"}
{"image":"\/Animals\/Patients\/Elephant seals\/2021\/cropped-images\/es-mizuna-by-bill-hunnewell-c-the-marine-mammal-center-5-70-2542-1985-1626807943.jpeg","alt":"northern elephant seal Mizuna","title":"Pharmacokinetic Study of Oral \u0190-Aminocaproic Acid in the Northern Elephant Seal","link_url":"https:\/\/www.marinemammalcenter.org\/publications\/pharmacokinetic-study-of-oral-aminocaproic-acid-in-the-northern-elephant-seal","label":"Research Paper"}
Pharmacokinetic Study of Oral Ɛ-Aminocaproic Acid in the Northern Elephant Seal
Read MoreRecent News
{"image":"\/People\/Action\/Veterinary care\/cropped-images\/Harris_Green turtle_TMMC-0-0-1270-992-1767649941.jpg","alt":"Heather Harris","title":"Seattle Aquarium Awards Dr. Heather Harris With Prestigious Conservation Research Award","link_url":"https:\/\/www.marinemammalcenter.org\/news\/seattle-aquarium-awards-dr-heather-harris-with-prestigious-conservation-research-award","label":"In the News","date":"2026-01-05 04:48:00"}
Seattle Aquarium Awards Dr. Heather Harris With Prestigious Conservation Research Award
January 5, 2026
Read More{"image":"\/People\/Action\/Veterinary care\/cropped-images\/harris-teaching-tube-feeding-0-0-1270-992-1767650122.jpg","alt":"A veterinarian and two trained volunteers tube feed an elephant seal pup.","title":"Training College Students in Marine Mammal Health","link_url":"https:\/\/www.marinemammalcenter.org\/news\/training-college-students-in-marine-mammal-health","label":"News Update","date":"2026-01-05 04:48:00"}
{"image":"\/Animals\/Patients\/Harbor seals\/2013\/cropped-images\/hs-bogey-photo-by-Ingrid-Overgard-c-the-marine-mammal-center-382-0-2914-2276-1605061447.jpg","alt":"harbor seal Bogey","title":"Top Eco Friendly Valentine\u2019s Day Gifts","link_url":"https:\/\/www.marinemammalcenter.org\/news\/top-eco-friendly-valentines-day-gifts","label":"News Update","date":"2026-01-01 01:00:00"}
{"image":"\/Animals\/Patients\/Harbor seals\/2020\/cropped-images\/hs-barnwood-by-bill-hunnewell-c-the-marine-mammal-center-315-0-3299-2577-1607370547.jpg","alt":"harbor seal Barnwood","title":"Last-Minute Gift Guide \u2013 Top Gifts that Give Back to Marine Animals","link_url":"https:\/\/www.marinemammalcenter.org\/news\/last-minute-gift-guide","label":"News Update","date":"2025-12-18 01:00:00"}
Last-Minute Gift Guide – Top Gifts that Give Back to Marine Animals
December 18, 2025
Read More