The 4 prokinetic drugs metoclopramide, cisapride, pyridostigmine, and capromorelin do not increase fecal output or food intake in healthy New Zealand rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus).

OBJECTIVE:To determine the effects of drugs with potential prokinetic effect through different mechanisms of action (metoclopramide, cisapride, pyridostigmine, and capromorelin) on food consumption, fecal production, water intake, and urine output in rabbits.

METHODS:In a randomized, blinded, complete crossover control trial, 10 healthy New Zealand white rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) received 5 treatments over a period of 10 weeks between May and August 2019. Fecal production (weight and number of pellets), food intake, urine production, and water intake were measured before and for 72 hours following administration of a single dose of oral metoclopramide (0.5 mg/kg), cisapride (0.5 mg/kg), pyridostigmine (1 mg/kg), and capromorelin (3 mg/kg). Linear mixed models were built to evaluate association between treatments, time, and their interaction with the outcomes.

RESULTS:Every day, rabbits produced a median of 75 g (range, 9 to 145 g) of feces, 226 fecal pellets (range, 12 to 412 pellets), and 151 mL (range, 5 to 420 mL) of urine. Rabbits consumed 128 g (range, 24 to 181 g) of food and drank 248 mL (range, 11 to 523 mL) of water. Metoclopramide, cisapride, pyridostigmine, and capromorelin had no effect on fecal production (both weight and number of pellets), food intake, urine production, or water intake compared to placebo at 24, 48, or 72 hours after administration.

CONCLUSIONS:None of the drugs tested in this study resulted in significant changes in fecal production, food intake, urine production, or water intake.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE:The administration of prokinetic drugs at doses currently suggested in formularies does not result in clinical changes in healthy rabbits.