Effect of gabapentin on hematological and biochemical parameters of healthy felines

• Grant number: 20/13633-5
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: February 01, 2021
• End date: January 31, 2022
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Veterinary Medicine - Animal Clinics and Surgery
• Principal Investigator: Marcel Gambin Marques
• Grantee: Thais Torres do Carmo
• Host Institution: Centro Universitário Faculdades Integradas de Ourinhos. Fundação Educacional Miguel Mofarrej. Ourinhos , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The management of the feline species during veterinarian appointment is a great challenge. When leaving their comfort area, felines can present behavioral changes secondary to excitement, fear or anxiety, which make it difficult to obtain samples and can alter hematological and biochemical tests. In order to avoid such complications, gabapentin has been used to reduce cat anxiety and fear during veterinarian appointments. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate the effects of gabapentin on hematological and biochemical parameters in healthy cats, as well as determining the degree of collaboration for blood collection. Ten healthy adult cats will be used, which will be evaluated in two visits, with an interval of 7 days. Two hours before each visit, the animal will receive 100 mg of gabapentin or a dose of placebo, randomly and blindly. Approximately 5 ml of blood will be obtained by jugular puncture to evaluate the blood count and other biochemical determinations. The biochemical profile will be determined in a semi-automated photocolorimeter using a set of commercial reagents. In addition, the animals will be evaluated according to a collaboration score for blood collection. Scored from 0 to 3, where score 0 represents behavior without resistance to manipulation and score 3 represents behavior with extreme resistance to manipulation. The variables will be tested for normality and differences between treatments will be verified by paired t tests or Wilcoxon. All statistical analyzes will be performed in a computer program (GraphPad Prism, v.6.00 for Windows, GraphPad Software, La Jolla, CA, USA, www.graphpad.com), being considered significant when p <0.05.