Exotic Animal Formulary5

Agent Dosage Species/Comments
Amitriptyline — Tricyclic antidepressant; inhibits serotonin and
norepinephrine reuptake; strong antihistamine
effect 497,818
1-5 mg/kg PO q12-
24h 333
Most species/feather-damaging behavior, anxiety,
phobia; 497 severe extrapyramidal side effects
encountered in a blue and gold macaw at 5
mg/kg PO 55
1.5-4.5 mg/kg 835 African grey parrots, cockatoos/PK; erratic plasma
concentrations generally below therapeutic
levels
2 mg/kg PO q24h 223 Psittacines/minimum of 30 days
9 mg/kg 835 African grey parrots, cockatoos/PK; good levels but
unpredictable half-life, toxicity in 1/3 African
grey parrots
Buspirone HCl
Carbamazepine
0.5 mg/kg PO
q12h 389
3-10 mg/kg PO
q24h 333
166 mg/L drinking
water 333
Anxiolytic; used to control behavior interpreted as
paradoxical anxiety caused by clomipramine
Most species/anticonvulsant, analgesic; may cause
bone marrow suppression (including aplastic
anemia and agranulocytosis) and
hepatotoxicity; combination with
chlorpromazine or haloperidol recommended
for initial treatment during the first 2 wk 333
Chlorpromazine — Phenothiazine; dopamine antagonist 333 used in
some cases of feather picking; correct
underlying problems and discontinue within 30
days; efficacy diminishes in 14-30 days when
given PO; may cause ataxia, regurgitation,
drowsiness 333
0.1-0.2 mg/kg IM
once 333
Mix 1 mL stock
solution/120 mL
drinking water
or 0.2-1 mL/kg
stock PO q12-
24h prn 333
Cockatoos, ringneck parakeets/use with
carbamazepine following removal of
Elizabethan collar; mild sedation and decreases
obsessive behaviors
Most species/stock solution: crush five 25 mg
tablets and mix with 31 mL simple syrup; start
at low dose initially; mild sedation
Clomipramine — Most selective for serotonin reuptake inhibition
among tricyclic antidepressants; antihistamine;
may cause regurgitation, drowsiness; adverse
effects in mammals include cardiac conduction
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