Bird veterinary drugs and dosages

Veterinary Drugs & Dosages Table

Birds

THIS SECTION IS INTENDED AS A REFERENCE FOR VETERINARY SURGEONS ONLY

Any medications dispensed or administered, or procedures performed, should only be by or under order of a qualified, licensed veterinary surgeon.
Given the current scarcity of drugs licensed for use in wildlife, the responsible use of the cascade system is recommended.
Drug information and dosages are derived from a variety of sources (see references), and do not necessarily guarantee safety or efficacy

ANTIBIOTICS ANALGESICS & ANTI-INFLAMMATORIES ANAESTHETICS & SEDATIVES ANTHELMENTICS FLUIDS OTHER

ANTIBIOTICS

DRUG	DOSE	ROUTE	SUITABLE SPECIES	DIRECTIONS	USES/NOTES
Amoxycillin trihydrate (Betamox LA 150mg/ml)	150mg/kg	IM		SID
Amoxycillin and clavulanic acid (Synulox/Augmentin)	35mg/kg	IM		SID
Cefalexin	35-100mg/kg	IM
Enrofloxacin (Baytril 5%) *1	5 – 15mg/kg	IM		Twice daily	Salmonellosis. Can be irritant
	15mg/kg	PO	Bird of prey	Twice daily, 2 wks	Starvation
Amoxycillin trihydrate (Betamox LA 150mg/ml) *1	0.025 ml	IM	Bird - blue tit size	Single dose	On admission plus 0.5mls SC Hartmanns
	0.05 ml	IM	Bird - sparrow size	Single dose	On admission plus 1mls SC Hartmanns
	0.1 ml	IM	Bird – blackbird size	Single dose	On admission plus 2mls SC Hartmanns
	0.25ml	IM	Bird – collard dove size	Single dose Over 30 min period	On admission plus 10mls SC (or IO) Hartmanns
	0.5ml	IM	Bird – pigeon /tawny owl size	Single dose Over 30 min period	On admission plus 15-20mls SC (or IO) Hartmanns
	1ml	IM	Bird – pheasant/duck size	Single dose Over 30 min period	On admission plus 30-40mls SC (or IO) Hartmanns
	250mg/kg	IM	Swan	Single dose	On admission
	250mg/kg	IM	Pigeon	Daily	Ruptured crop cover
Marbofloxacin (Marbocyl 20mg/ml)	10mg/kg	IM		SID	Less irritant than enrofloxacin

ANALGESICS & ANTI-INFLAMMATORIES

DRUG	DOSE	ROUTE	SUITABLE SPECIES	DIRECTIONS	USES/NOTES
Buprenorphine (Temgesic/Vetergesic)	0.1mg/kg	IM, IV		BID	Sedative and analgesic
Butorphanol (Torbugesic)	2-4mg/kg	IM, IV		SID
Carprofen (Rimadyl)	5-10mg/kg	IM, IV		SID
Carprofen *1	5mg/kg	IM	Pheasant	SID
Meloxicam (Metacam)	0.2mg/kg	SC		SID
	0.2mg/kg	PO		SID	(2 drops/kg)

ANAESTHETICS & SEDATIVES

DRUG	DOSE	ROUTE	SUITABLE SPECIES	DIRECTIONS	USES/NOTES
Atipamezole (Antisedan)	750-1500mcg/kg				Reversal for Ket+Med mix
Diazepam (Valium)	0.5-1.0mg/kg	IV, IM			Sedation for convulsions
Isoflurane	3-5% induction			1.5-2.5% maintenance	Anaesthesia
Ketamine + medetomidine (Domitor 1mg/ml)	3-5mg/kg + 150-300mcg/kg	IV, IM			30mins surgical GA. Birds standing 10mins after atipamezole reversal

ANTHELMENTICS

DRUG	DOSE	ROUTE	SUITABLE SPECIES	DIRECTIONS	USES/NOTES
Fenbendazole (Panacur)	20-50mg/kg	PO		Repeat in 10 days	For capillariasis / cestodes treat for 3-5 consecutive days For pigeons treat for 3 consecutive days at lowest dose
Fenbendazole *1	1 tablet	PO	Pigeon	Single dose	Admission
Ivermectin	0.2mg/kg	IM, SC			Endo and ectoparasites
	0.1ml/kg	PO			Dilute 1:50 with propylene glycol
Ivermectin pour-on *1	One diluted drop	Back of neck	Garden bird	Single dose	Birds with mites
	0.1ml	Back of neck	Crow sized bird	Single dose	Ectoparasites
	0.1ml		Collared dove	Single dose	Admission
Ivermectin for cattle *1	200mcg/kg	SC, PO	Ducks, corvids	Once weekly for 3 wks	Endoparasites
	0.2ml/kg	SC, PO			For maggots if mixed 1:9 with propylene glycol
Fipronil (Frontline) *1		Topical	Corvid	Single dose	Mites. Spray beneath feathers
Permethrin powders		Topical			Apply beneath feathers
Itraconazole	5-10mg/kg	PO		SID for 7-10 days	Aspergillosis prophylactic
	5-10mg/kg	PO		BID for 4-6wks	Aspergillosis treatment
Itraconazole *1	20mg/kg			BID for 2 wks	Aspergillosis prophylactic. Antifungal
Exelpet *1					Insecticide for biting lice
Carnidazole (Spartrix) *1	10mg	PO		Single dose	Antiprotozan for trichomonas in adult birds or chronic cases
	5mg	PO		Single dose	trichomonas in young birds
	Half tablet	PO	Collared dove	Single dose	admission
	1 tablet	PO	Pigeon	Single dose	admission

FLUIDS

DRUG	DOSE	ROUTE	DIRECTIONS	USES/NOTES
Isotonic fluids	Mainly 50-150ml/kg/day	Generally SC route	Warm fluids	Assume minimum 10% dehydration on arrival, add as appropriate
Hartmann’s	100-150 ml/kg/day	SC, PO (6 doses)	Maintenance rate for BABY birds
	50-100 ml/kg/day		Maintenance rate for ADULT birds
	50-75 ml/kg		Maintenance rate for Birds of prey	Add deficits and losses

OTHER *1

DRUG	DOSE	ROUTE	SUITABLE SPECIES	DIRECTIONS	USES/NOTES
Atropine	0.2-0.4mg/kg	IM		q3-4hrs	For organophosphate poisoning
Dexamethasone	1-2mg/kg	IV			Use corticosteroids with care and only for short course of 48hrs max
	2-4mg/kg	IM
Doxapram (Dopram)	10mg/kg	IV, IM			Respiratory stimulant
Fish Eaters tablets *1		PO	Seabirds		seabirds
Frusimide (lasix 5%)	2mg/kg	IV, IM			Diuretic
Iron Dextran *1	10mg/kg	IM	Bird of prey	Weekly for 2 wks	starvation
Methylprednisolone (Solu medrone V) *2	0.5-1mg/kg	PO, IM		Allergies	Methylprednisolone (Solu medrone V) *3
Nandrolone /Laurabolin *1	1mg/kg		swift	Single dose
Pentobarbital sodium (Pentobarbital)		IV, IP, IC			Euthanasia
Salt tablets *1		PO	Seabirds		seabirds
Vitamin B *1	10mg/kg thiamine content	SC	Bird of prey	Weekly for 2 wks	starvation
Vitamin B12 *1	250 – 5000mcg/kg	IM or PO	Duck	Once weekly
	1ml		Swan	Single dose	On admission

Prophylactic pigeon treatment *1

Treatment	Feral Pigeon	Wood pigeon	Collared dove	Stock dove	Turtle dove
Carnidazole	10mg	10mg	5mg or 10mg if infected	10mg	5mg
PMV vaccine After 10days quarantine	0.2ml SC	0.2ml SC		0.2ml SC
Fenbendazole pigeon capsule	1 capsule	1 capsule		1 capsule

Antitoxin for birds *1

10g	activated charcoal – absorbent (burnt toast)
5g	kaolin – adsorbent
5g	tannic acid
5g	light magnesium oxide – antacid

Water added to bring the total volume to 500ml

References
BSAVA Manual of Wildlife Casualties
*1 Practical Wildlife Care, Les Stocker
*2 Exotic Animal Formulary, third edition