COMPARISON OF INTRANASAL ADMINISTRATION OF XYLAZINE, DIAZEPAM, AND MIDAZOLAM IN BUDGERIGARS (MELOPSITTACUS UNDULATUS): CLINICAL EVALUATION

Abstract

Effective sedation methods are important to facilitate safe handling for diagnostic and clinical procedures for small and often delicate birds such as budgerigars (Melopsittacus undulatus). The aim of this study was to directly compare the time of onset and duration of sedation produced by intranasal administration of xylazine, diazepam, or midazolam in budgerigars. Fifteen (seven male, eight female) clinically healthy mature budgerigars weighing 28.9 +/- 6.1 g were involved in the study Each bird was used three times in a randomized crossover study design with 7 days between treatments. Birds received xylazine (25.6 +/- 2.2 mg/kg), diazepam (13.6 +/- 1.1 mg/kg), or midazolam (13.2 +/- 1.3 mg/kg) intranasally (i.n.) using a micropipette. The onset time and dorsal recumbency duration time were measured and recorded. Sedation was produced in all birds after i.n. administration of xylazine, diazepam, and midazolam. Time to onset of sedation was significantly shorter after midazolam (1.3 +/- 0.44 min) compared with that after xylazine (2.6 +/- 0.89 min) and diazepam (2.8 +/- 0.88 min). Xylazine produced significantly longer duration of sedation (286.0 +/- 28.8 min) than that produced by diazepam (165.40 +/- 19.2 min) and midazolam (71.60 +/- 8.9 min). This study demonstrated that i.n. drug administration could provide fast and reliable sedation in budgerigars. Although i.n. midazolam or diazepam can provide adequate sedation for diagnostic and minor therapeutic procedures, xylazine at the dose used in this study is not recommended because the quality of sedation may be insufficient to perform a clinical procedure.

Intranasal administration of midazolam in blue-and-yellow macaws ( Ara araruana ): evaluation of sedative effects

“…No serious adverse side effects were observed in the birds in this study. Similar effects were reported by other authors after INS administration in canaries and budgerigars (Vesal & Zare 2006;Sadegh 2013). The sneezing may be associated with discomfort due to the volume administered or to the pH of midazolam (Vesal & Zare 2006).…”

“…The absence of vocalization is considered to be an indicator of sedation in some birds and was also observed in parrots administered INS midazolam (Mans et al 2012). The time to onset of sedation recorded in this study was similar to times reported for parrots (Amazona ventralis), canaries (Serinus canarius) and budgerigars (Melopsittacus undulatus) after INS administration (Vesal & Zare 2006;Mans et al 2012;Sadegh 2013). Various behavioral response assessments are used to evaluate the quality of sedation in birds.…”

“…Administration of sedative agents may ameliorate stress and ease the management of wild birds requiring physical restraint (Vesal & Zare 2006;Mans et al 2012). Injections are frequently made into the pectoral muscles in birds; however, potential risks are accidental intravascular or intracoelomic drug administration (Vesal & Zare 2006;Sadegh 2013). Midazolam has been reported to induce sedation in birds after intranasal (INS) administration with minimal adverse cardiopulmonary effects (Vesal & Zare 2006;Sadegh 2013;Hornak et al 2015).…”

“…Injections are frequently made into the pectoral muscles in birds; however, potential risks are accidental intravascular or intracoelomic drug administration (Vesal & Zare 2006;Sadegh 2013). Midazolam has been reported to induce sedation in birds after intranasal (INS) administration with minimal adverse cardiopulmonary effects (Vesal & Zare 2006;Sadegh 2013;Hornak et al 2015). The INS route for drug administration is easily performed in birds (Mans et al 2012;Sadegh 2013;Hornak et al 2015), and excellent sedation has been observed in budgerigars after INS midazolam (Sadegh 2013).…”

Effect of pretreatment with midazolam on etomidate-induced myoclonus: A meta-analysis

“…Its pharmacological characteristics includes fast-action, short half-life, rapid and complete absorption by muscle tissue and mucous membranes, and bioavailability >90%. 16 Under physiological pH, midazolam can quickly enter into the central nervous system through the blood brain barrier, thus rapidly playing its pharmacological role. 16 One potential reason for the prevention of etomidate-induced myoclonus by midazolam may be that midazolam interferes with neurohumor GABA reuptake, leading to accumulation of GABA.…”