Abstract
Objective
To determine pharmacokinetic variables that describe the disposition of flunixin after IV administration of flunixin meglumine to foals < 24 hours old.
Animals
6 healthy foals, 2 males and 4 females (mean age, 11.6 hours; range, 6 to 22.5 hours).
Procedure
Flunixin (as flunixin meglumine) was administered to foals at a dosage of 1.1 mg/kg of body weight. Flunixin concentration in plasma samples was analyzed, using gas chromatography/mass spectroscopy. Concentration versus time profiles were analyzed according to standard pharmacokinetic techniques. Blood samples were obtained from foals by jugular venipuncture at defined intervals over a 48-hour period. Samples were centrifuged, and plasma was frozen at −70 C until analyzed. One-, two-, and three-compartment analyses were conducted. The most appropriate model was determined by Akaike's information criterion analysis.
Results
Plasma concentration versus time profiles were best described, using a two-compartment open model. Clearance was significantly lower than that determined for older foals and adult horses. Volume of distribution was larger than that determined for adults. Mean plasma halflife for healthy foals < 24 hours old was 8.5 hours.
Conclusions and Clinical Relevance
Although additional factors (eg, dehydration or sepsis) must be considered on a case-by-case basis, flunixin meglumine should be administered differently to foals < 24 hours old, compared with adults. Under similar clinical circumstances, doses in foals should be increased by as much as 1.5 times to induce comparable therapeutic concentrations; longer dose intervals, on the basis of clinical response, would be necessary to avoid drug toxicity. (Am J Vet Res 1996;57:1759–1761)