Sedative effects of administration through the nares of dexmedetomidine, midazolam, and butorphanol in cockatiels (Nymphicus hollandicus): a preliminary crossover study.

Abstract

This study evaluated the efficacy and safety of a sedation protocol through the nares combining dexmedetomidine with midazolam and butorphanol in cockatiels. Six adults were enrolled in a randomized, 4 treatment, 4 period crossover trial comparing a control regimen (midazolam 3 mg/kg and butorphanol 3 mg/kg) with three combinations including dexmedetomidine at 0.04, 0.06, or 0.08 mg/kg, administered through the nares. The volume of all treatments was standardized to the volume of the highest dose of dexmedetomidine administered (2 mL/kg) with sterile saline solution. Sedation scores, respiratory rate, heart rate, and cloacal temperature were recorded for 10 min after drug administration and during 15 min of manual restraint, followed by flumazenil and atipamezole via the nares for reversal. All birds completed all treatments; mild sneezing occurred but no clinically relevant respiratory complications were observed. Medium and high dose dexmedetomidine produced higher sedation scores and lower respiratory rate, heart rate, and body temperature during restraint than the control regimen, whereas the control group showed increased respiratory rate, suggesting insufficient suppression of restraint induced stress. In all groups, sedation and physiological variables returned to near baseline values within 15 min after reversal, and no serious adverse events occurred. These findings indicate that administration through the nares dexmedetomidine at 0.06 or 0.08 mg/kg combined with midazolam and butorphanol provides deeper, more stable, and reversible sedation and improved control of stress responses in cockatiels and may represent a clinically useful protocol in this species.