Metoclopramide does not enhance upper gastrointestinal motility in clinically healthy pigeons (Columba livia domestica) or those with sedation-induced functional ileus.

OBJECTIVE

To determine if metoclopramide has a prokinetic effect on gastrointestinal (GI) contraction frequency and transit time in conscious pigeons and those with sedation-induced ileus.

METHODS

This study took place between November and December 2025 at a veterinary teaching hospital. Clinically healthy adult pigeons were assigned to treatment groups as follows: saline (conscious control), saline/metoclopramide (conscious treatment), butorphanol/midazolam/saline (sedated control), or butorphanol/midazolam/metoclopramide (sedated treatment), all given IM with oral barium sulfate. Serial fluoroscopic cine loops were recorded at set time intervals. Amount of contrast remaining, contraction frequency, and time to contrast first noted were recorded for the crop, proventriculus, ventriculus, and small intestines. Linear mixed models were used to evaluate the effect of treatment on score and count outcomes over time. Event times were approximated using the midpoint of the detection interval and censored if greater than the observation period.

RESULTS

12 pigeons were assigned to 4 treatment groups in a randomized, complete crossover design. Administering midazolam and butorphanol resulted in significantly prolonged transit times and decreased GI contractions. The conscious treatment group did not have faster transit or more frequent GI contractions compared to the conscious control group. There was no significant difference in transit time or contraction frequency between the sedated control and sedated treatment groups. One bird regurgitated once but did not require intervention.

CONCLUSIONS

Metoclopramide did not exhibit observable prokinetic effects.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Metoclopramide at 2 mg/kg did not exhibit observable prokinetic effects in neither conscious pigeons nor those with sedation-induced ileus.