Comparative pharmacokinetics of a single oral dose of meloxicam in the California sea lion (Zalophus californianus) and Pacific harbor seal (Phoca vitulina richardii)

Dosing protocols for meloxicam in pinnipeds have lacked pharmacokinetic support, and it was unclear whether dosing could be generalized across different pinniped species. This population-based pharmacokinetic study administered a single oral meloxicam dose to 13 California sea lions and 17 Pacific harbor seals, with plasma concentrations analyzed using nonlinear mixed effects modeling in Phoenix NLME. Both species showed a long elimination half-life (roughly 31-33 hours), longer than previously recommended dosing intervals, with peak concentrations somewhat higher in harbor seals than sea lions. These findings suggest that current pinniped meloxicam dosing intervals may need reconsideration, though further study is needed to establish optimal clinical dosing.