Intranasal alfaxalone in cockatiels (Nymphicus hollandicus) does not produce sedation compared to intramuscular alfaxalone with or without midazolam.

OBJECTIVE

To compare the sedative effects of intranasal (IN) alfaxalone to IM alfaxalone with or without IM midazolam in cockatiels (Nymphicus hollandicus).

METHODS

A prospective, blinded, crossover study was performed on 8 healthy male cockatiels from February through April 2021. Birds randomly received 4 treatments with at least a 1-week washout period: alfaxalone at 15 mg/kg, IN (IN-A); alfaxalone at 15 mg/kg, IM, with (IM-AM) or without (IM-A) midazolam at 3 mg/kg, IM; and midazolam at 3 mg/kg, IM (IM-M). Time to recumbency and heart and respiratory rates were recorded. Ten minutes following administration, birds were restrained for sham 2-view radiographs and venipuncture. Following venipuncture, flumazenil at 0.1 mg/kg, IM, was administered (IM-AM and IM-M). Time to standing was recorded. Data were analyzed using a linear mixed model, a mixed effects γ-regression model, and Cochran Q, Friedman, and Wilcoxon signed-rank tests.

RESULTS

No sedative effects were observed in IN-A. Recumbency was achieved in 0/8, 5/8, 8/8, and 0/8 birds in IN-A, IM-A, IM-AM, and IM-M, respectively. Respiratory and heart rates remained within acceptable limits in all birds. Sham radiographs were acquired in 0/8, 1/8, 6/8, and 0/8 birds in IN-A, IM-A, IM-AM, and IM-M, respectively. Venipuncture was successful in all birds with median lactate concentrations of 4.9, 2.4, 1.0, and 1.8 mmol/L in IN-A, IM-A, IM-AM, and IM-M, respectively. Median (range) time to standing after handling in IM-A and IM-AM was 8.8 (0 to 15.0) and 14.5 (0.6 to 15.5) min, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Intranasal alfaxalone at 15 mg/kg did not produce sedation.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Intramuscular alfaxalone at 15 mg/kg with midazolam at 3 mg/kg produced sedation in cockatiels.