Plasma Concentrations of Oral Ondansetron in Hospitalized Dogs Exhibiting Clinical Signs of Nausea

The purpose of this study was to evaluate plasma ondansetron (OND) concentrations in a population of dogs with naturally occurring nausea after oral OND administration. Twenty-four dogs were randomly assigned to receive one of the following doses of oral OND: 0.5 mg/kg q8h, 0.5 mg/kg q12h, 1 mg/kg q8h, or 1 mg/kg q12h. Blood samples for plasma OND measurements were collected at baseline and 2, 4, and 8 h after administration of the first dose of OND. OND concentrations averaged over an 8 h time period were not significantly different between dose groups (0.5 mg/kg group: median 8.5 ng/mL [range 1-96.8 ng/mL], 1 mg/kg group: median 7.4 ng/mL [range 1-278.7 ng/mL]). The mean maximum concentrations in the 0.5 mg/kg and 1 mg/kg groups were 35.8 ± 49.0 ng/mL and 63.3 ± 121.1 ng/mL, respectively. OND concentrations were below the lower limit of quantification (LLOQ) in 50% (18/36) of samples in the 0.5 mg/kg groups and 39% (14/36) of samples in the 1 mg/kg groups. Six dogs (6/24, 25%) did not have OND detected at any time. The mean nausea scores at baseline were similar amongst all groups and decreased over time. The bioavailability of oral OND appears to be poor. Despite low plasma OND concentrations, nausea scores improved over time.