Pain Management in African Grey Parrots

Bird · Psittacus erithacus · typical adult weight 0.40–0.65 kg

12 cited drugs treat Pain Management in african grey parrots: Butorphanol, Butorphanol Injectable, Carbamazepine, Carprofen, Ibuprofen, Meloxicam, Meloxicam Compounded Exotic, Meperidine, Phenylbutazone, Tramadol, Tramadol Compounded Liquid, Tramadol Exotic.

Multimodal analgesia spanning NSAIDs, opioids, local anaesthetics, NMDA antagonists (ketamine), α2 agonists, and adjuncts. Species safety matters: NSAIDs are unsafe in some reptiles, opioid receptor distributions differ in birds, and rabbits tolerate buprenorphine particularly well.

The overview above describes Pain Management across species; the citations below are the ExoticRx dose rules scoped to african grey parrots — a reference list, not new species-specific clinical guidance.

Butorphanol(Torbugesic, Torbutrol)

Analgesic

Route	Dose	Frequency	Duration	Indication	Evidence	Source
IM	1–4 mg/kg	q2-4h	As needed	Pain management, sedation	Moderate	Curro TG. Evaluation of the isoflurane-sparing effects of butorphanol and flunixin in psittaciformes. Proc Annu Conf Assoc Avian Vet; 1994:17-19.; Curro TG, Brunson DB, Paul-Murphy J. Determination of the ED50 of isoflurane and evaluation of the isoflurane-sparing effect of butorphanol in cockatoos (Cacatua spp.). Vet Surg. 1994;23:429-433. doi:10.1111/j.1532-950x.1994.tb00502.x — Verified against Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.448 (2026-08-01). — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 5.5 (Chemical Restraint/Anesthetic/Sedative/Analgesic Agents Used in Birds.a,b). The copy held is an ebook conversion with no printed page numbers, so the table — not the page — is the citable location. — SOURCE EDITION: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — ISBN 9780323833929, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323833929

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Butorphanol Injectable(Torbugesic, Torbutrol Injectable)

Neurological

Route	Dose	Frequency	Duration	Indication	Evidence	Source
IM	1–4 mg/kg	q1-4h	As needed	Analgesia	Moderate	Curro TG. Evaluation of the isoflurane-sparing effects of butorphanol and flunixin in psittaciformes. Proc Annu Conf Assoc Avian Vet; 1994:17-19.; Curro TG, Brunson DB, Paul-Murphy J. Determination of the ED50 of isoflurane and evaluation of the isoflurane-sparing effect of butorphanol in cockatoos (Cacatua spp.). Vet Surg. 1994;23:429-433. doi:10.1111/j.1532-950x.1994.tb00502.x — Verified against Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.448 (2026-08-01). — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 5.5 (Chemical Restraint/Anesthetic/Sedative/Analgesic Agents Used in Birds.a,b). The copy held is an ebook conversion with no printed page numbers, so the table — not the page — is the citable location. — SOURCE EDITION: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — ISBN 9780323833929, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323833929

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Carbamazepine(Tegretol)

Neurological

Route	Dose	Frequency	Indication	Evidence	Source
PO	3–10 mg/kg	q24h	Anticonvulsant; analgesic	Moderate	954. van Zeeland Y, Friedman S, Bergman L. Behavior. In: Speer B, eds. Current Therapy in Avian Medicine and Surgery; Elsevier, St. Louis, MO; 2016:177-251. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.471 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 5.10 (Psychotropic and Antiepileptic Agents Used in Birds.a,b). The copy held is an ebook conversion with no printed page numbers, so the table — not the page — is the citable location. — SOURCE EDITION: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — ISBN 9780323833929, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323833929; Current Therapy in Avian Medicine and Surgery — ISBN 9781455746712, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9781455746712

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Carprofen(Rimadyl, Novox)

Analgesic

Route	Dose	Frequency	Indication	Evidence	Source
SC, IM	2–10 mg/kg	not stated in source	Analgesia / anti-inflammatory	Weak	255. Edling TM. Anaesthesia and analgesia. In: Chitty J, Harcourt-Brown N, eds. BSAVA Manual of Psittacine Birds; British Small Animal Veterinary Association, Gloucester, UK; 2005:87-96. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.458 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 5.6 (Nonsteroidal Antiinflammatory Agents Used in Birds). The copy held is an ebook conversion with no printed page numbers, so the table — not the page — is the citable location. — SOURCE EDITION: BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, Part A — Canine and Feline — ISBN 9781910443705, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9781910443705; Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — ISBN 9780323833929, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323833929

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Ibuprofen

Analgesic

Route	Dose	Frequency	Indication	Evidence	Source
PO	5–10 mg/kg	q8-12h	Analgesia / anti-inflammatory	Moderate	255. Edling TM. Anaesthesia and analgesia. In: Chitty J, Harcourt-Brown N, eds. BSAVA Manual of Psittacine Birds; British Small Animal Veterinary Association, Gloucester, UK; 2005:87-96. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.459 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 5.6 (Nonsteroidal Antiinflammatory Agents Used in Birds). The copy held is an ebook conversion with no printed page numbers, so the table — not the page — is the citable location. — SOURCE EDITION: BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, Part A — Canine and Feline — ISBN 9781910443705, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9781910443705; Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — ISBN 9780323833929, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323833929

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Meloxicam(Metacam)

Analgesic

Route	Dose	Frequency	Duration	Indication	Evidence	Source
SC	0.5–1 mg/kg	q12-24h	1-3 days	Post-surgical analgesia	Moderate	Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th ed, Table 5.6, Table 5.13 (the served figure is printed in each; all lie in the chapter covering this species); located 2026-08-06. — SOURCE EDITION: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — ISBN 9780323833929, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323833929

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Meloxicam Compounded Exotic(Meloxicam Exotic Oral Suspension)

Miscellaneous

Route	Dose	Frequency	Duration	Indication	Evidence	Source
PO	0.5–1 mg/kg	q12-24h	Short-term (3-7 days); assess need for continued therapy	Musculoskeletal pain/Post-surgical analgesia	Moderate	Montesinos A, Ardiaca M, Juan-Salles C, et al. Effects of meloxicam on hematologic and plasma biochemical analyte values and results of histologic examination of kidney biopsy specimens of African grey parrots (Psittacus erithacus). J Avian Med Surg. 2015;29:1-8. doi:10.1647/2013-056 — Verified against Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.459 (2026-08-01). — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 5.6 (Nonsteroidal Antiinflammatory Agents Used in Birds). The copy held is an ebook conversion with no printed page numbers, so the table — not the page — is the citable location. — SOURCE EDITION: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — ISBN 9780323833929, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323833929

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Meperidine

Analgesic

Route	Dose	Frequency	Indication	Evidence	Source
IM	1–4 mg/kg	Not stated	Sedation; analgesia	Weak	768. Ritchie BW, Harrison GJ. Formulary. In: Ritchie BW, Harrison GJ, Harrison LR, Abridged, eds. Avian Medicine: Principles and Application; Wingers Publishing, Lake Worth, FL; 1997:227-253. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.454 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 5.5 (Chemical Restraint/Anesthetic/Sedative/Analgesic Agents Used in Birds.a,b). The copy held is an ebook conversion with no printed page numbers, so the table — not the page — is the citable location. — SOURCE EDITION: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — ISBN 9780323833929, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323833929

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Phenylbutazone(Butazolidin)

Analgesic

Route	Dose	Frequency	Indication	Evidence	Source
PO	3.5–7 mg/kg	q8-12h	Analgesia / anti-inflammatory	Moderate	255. Edling TM. Anaesthesia and analgesia. In: Chitty J, Harcourt-Brown N, eds. BSAVA Manual of Psittacine Birds; British Small Animal Veterinary Association, Gloucester, UK; 2005:87-96. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.460 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 5.6 (Nonsteroidal Antiinflammatory Agents Used in Birds). The copy held is an ebook conversion with no printed page numbers, so the table — not the page — is the citable location. — SOURCE EDITION: BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, Part A — Canine and Feline — ISBN 9781910443705, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9781910443705; Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — ISBN 9780323833929, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323833929

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Tramadol

Analgesic

Route	Dose	Frequency	Duration	Indication	Evidence	Source
PO	5–30 mg/kg	q8-12h	As needed	Pain management	Extrapolated	Zoo Animal and Wildlife Immobilization and Anesthesia, 2nd ed. (2014), West/Heard/Caulkett - Table 6.1, printed p.87 (corpus p.107), AVIAN column, verbatim: 'Tramadol 5-30 mg/kg PO q 6 h (Black et al. 2010; Souza et al. 2009, 2010)'. — SOURCE EDITION: Zoo Animal and Wildlife Immobilization and Anesthesia — ISBN 9780813811833, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780813811833

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Tramadol Compounded Liquid(Tramadol Oral Solution Vet)

Miscellaneous

Route	Dose	Frequency	Duration	Indication	Evidence	Source
PO	5–30 mg/kg	q8-12h	Short-term (3-7 days); limited avian pharmacokinetic data	Analgesia (musculoskeletal/post-surgical)	Weak	West G, Heard D, Caulkett N (eds). Zoo Animal and Wildlife Immobilization and Anesthesia, 2nd Ed (Wiley-Blackwell, 2014), Ch. 6 Analgesia, Table 6.1 'Commonly used analgesics in nonmammalian vertebrates', Avian column — book p. 87 (corpus PDF p. 107) — SOURCE EDITION: Zoo Animal and Wildlife Immobilization and Anesthesia — ISBN 9780813811833, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780813811833

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Tramadol Exotic(Tramadol)

Neurological

Route	Dose	Frequency	Duration	Indication	Evidence	Source
PO	5–30 mg/kg	q6-12h	3-7 days	Analgesia	Extrapolated	Zoo Animal and Wildlife Immobilization and Anesthesia, 2nd ed. (2014), West/Heard/Caulkett - Table 6.1 'Commonly used analgesics in nonmammalian vertebrates', printed p.87 (corpus p.107), AVIAN column, verbatim: 'Tramadol 5-30 mg/kg PO q 6 h (Black et al. 2010; Souza et al. 2009, 2010)'. Column header scope is 'Avian' (class-wide), which covers Psittacus erithacus. — SOURCE EDITION: Zoo Animal and Wildlife Immobilization and Anesthesia — ISBN 9780813811833, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780813811833

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All drugs cited for Pain Management →All drugs for African Grey Parrots →

Other conditions in African Grey Parrots

Bacterial Infections Seizures and Epilepsy Endoparasites Sedation General Anesthesia Hypocalcaemia Coccidiosis Systemic Fungal Infections

Sourced from published veterinary references; awaiting credentialed clinical reviewer. See our editorial process. Reference only — not veterinary advice. Verify against current literature before clinical use.