Exploring montelukast in dogs: A preliminary pharmacokinetic study following oral administration under fasted and fed conditions

This study investigates the pharmacokinetics (PK) of montelukast (MTK), a cysteinyl leukotriene receptor antagonist increasingly being considered in veterinary medicine. In dogs, MTK has found indications mainly for treating atopic dermatitis as an off-label use. Six male Labrador dogs underwent a single oral administration of MTK (40 mg/dog) in both fasted and fed conditions according to an open, single-dose, two-treatment, two-phase, cross-over design, with a washout period of one week. Blood was withdrawn to heparinized tubes at 0, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, 1, 1.5, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 24 hr. MTK plasma concentrations were quantified using a validated HPLC method, and the data were analysed using PKanalix™ software with a non-compartmental approach.

Concentrations remained quantifiable at 24 hr after administration, under both conditions. No significant differences were observed in the PK parameters between the fasted and fed states. MTK was relatively eliminated slowly, with t1/2 values of 8.10 and 7.68 hr after fasted and fed states, respectively. The attainment of maximum concentration (C_max) occurred at a T_max of 4 hr, with mean values of 1.98 μg/mL and 2.80 μg/mL under fasted and fed conditions, respectively. Given the unknown therapeutic range of MTK in dogs and the absence of controlled studies proving its efficacy in this species, further dosing adjustments and refinements should be considered based on both the current PK data and the need to establish an effective therapeutic range, if present. Future research should focus on efficacy studies, multiple-dose investigations, and pharmacodynamic assessments to evaluate the suitability of MTK use in dogs.