Antinociceptive effects of long-acting nalbuphine decanoate after intramuscular administration to Hispaniolan Amazon parrots (Amazona ventralis).
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the thermal antinociceptive effects and duration of action of nalbuphine decanoate after IM administration to Hispaniolan Amazon parrots (Amazona ventralis).


METHODS
10 healthy adult Hispaniolan Amazon parrots of unknown sex.


METHODS
Nalbuphine decanoate (33.7 mg/kg) or saline (0.9% NaCl) solution was administered IM in a randomized complete crossover experimental design (periods 1 and 2). Foot withdrawal threshold to a noxious thermal stimulus was used to evaluate responses. Baseline thermal withdrawal threshold was recorded 1 hour before drug or saline solution administration, and thermal foot withdrawal threshold measurements were repeated 1, 2, 3, 6, 12, 24, 48, and 72 hours after drug administration.


RESULTS
Nalbuphine decanoate administered IM at a dose of 33.7 mg/kg significantly increased thermal foot withdrawal threshold, compared with results after administration of saline solution during period 2, and also caused a significant change in withdrawal threshold for up to 12 hours, compared with baseline values.


CONCLUSIONS
Nalbuphine decanoate increased the foot withdrawal threshold to a noxious thermal stimulus in Hispaniolan Amazon parrots for up to 12 hours and provided a longer duration of action than has been reported for other nalbuphine formulations. Further studies with other types of nociceptive stimulation, dosages, and dosing intervals as well as clinical trials are needed to fully evaluate the analgesic effects of nalbuphine decanoate in psittacine birds.
Department of Veterinary Medicine and Epidemiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California-Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA. guzman@ucdavis.edu
David
D
Sanchez-Migallon Guzman
Jana M
JM
Braun
Paulo V M
PV
Steagall
Nicholas S
NS
Keuler
Timothy D
TD
Heath
Lisa A
LA
Krugner-Higby
Carolyn S
CS
Brown
Joanne R
JR
Paul-Murphy
D046708:Amazona / Q000502:physiology*; D000700:Analgesics / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D000818:Animals; D019540:Area Under Curve; D002853:Chromatography, Liquid / Q000662:veterinary; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D006207:Half-Life; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D007273:Injections, Intramuscular / Q000662:veterinary; D009266:Nalbuphine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D021241:Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization / Q000662:veterinary; D053719:Tandem Mass Spectrometry / Q000662:veterinary
D000700:Analgesics; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D009266:Nalbuphine