Seizures and Epilepsy in African Grey Parrots

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

9 cited drugs treat Seizures and Epilepsy in african grey parrots: Calcium (oral/injectable), Calcium Gluconate, Clonazepam, Diazepam, Levetiracetam, Magnesium Sulfate, Midazolam, Midazolam Injectable, Zonisamide.

Acute control and chronic management of seizure disorders. Status-epilepticus protocols use benzodiazepines first line, with phenobarbital, levetiracetam, or potassium bromide for maintenance. Etiology workup is essential — idiopathic epilepsy is a diagnosis of exclusion.

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

Calcium (oral/injectable)(Cal-Phos, Calciquid)

Supplement

Route	Dose	Frequency	Duration	Indication	Evidence	Source
IV	50–100 mg/kg	once	Slow IV; transition to oral	Acute hypocalcemia with seizures	Moderate	Beynon PH, Forbes NA, Lawton MP.C. Manual of Psittacine Birds, Iowa State University Press, Ames, IA; 1996. — Verified against Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.475 (2026-08-01). — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 5.11 (Nutritional/Mineral Support and Supplementation 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

Full Calcium (oral/injectable) dosing in African Grey Parrots →Calculate for this african grey parrot →

Calcium Gluconate

Emergency

Route	Dose	Frequency	Duration	Indication	Evidence	Source
IM	50–100 mg/kg	not stated in source	Emergency; follow with oral	Acute hypocalcemia, seizures	Moderate	Huckabee JR. Raptor therapeutics. Vet Clin North Am Exot Anim Pract. 2000;3:91-116.; Huff DG. Avian fluid therapy and nutritional therapeutics. Semin Avian Exot Pet Med. 1993;2:13-16.; Ritchie BW, Harrison GJ. Formulary. In: Ritchie BW, Harrison GJ, Harrison LR, eds. Avian Medicine: Principles and Application; Wingers Publishing, Lake Worth, FL; 1994:457-478. — Verified against Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.475 (2026-08-01). — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 5.11 (Nutritional/Mineral Support and Supplementation 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

Full Calcium Gluconate dosing in African Grey Parrots →Calculate for this african grey parrot →

Clonazepam

Neurological

Route	Dose	Frequency	Indication	Evidence	Source
PO	0.5 mg/kg	q12h	Antiepileptic	Moderate	73. Beaufrère H, Nevarez J, Gaschen L, et al. Diagnosis of presumed acute ischemic stroke and associated seizure management in a Congo African grey parrot. J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2011;239(1):122-128. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.472 doi:10.2460/javma.239.1.122 — 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

Full Clonazepam dosing in African Grey Parrots →Calculate for this african grey parrot →

Diazepam(Valium)

Sedative

Route	Dose	Frequency	Duration	Indication	Evidence	Source
IM	0.5–1.5 mg/kg	q8-12h	Emergency	Control of seizures	Extrapolated	Delk K. Clinical management of seizures in avian patients. J Exot Pet Med. 2012;21(2):132-139. doi:10.1053/j.jepm.2012.02.014 — Verified against Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.472 (2026-08-01). — 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

Full Diazepam dosing in African Grey Parrots →Calculate for this african grey parrot →

Levetiracetam(Keppra)

Anticonvulsant

Route	Dose	Frequency	Indication	Evidence	Source
PO	50–100 mg/kg	q8h	Long-term seizure management	Moderate	73. Beaufrère H, Nevarez J, Gaschen L, et al. Diagnosis of presumed acute ischemic stroke and associated seizure management in a Congo African grey parrot. J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2011;239(1):122-128. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.473 doi:10.2460/javma.239.1.122 — 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

Full Levetiracetam dosing in African Grey Parrots →Calculate for this african grey parrot →

Magnesium Sulfate(MgSO4, Epsom Salt)

Emergency

Route	Dose	Frequency	Indication	Evidence	Source
IM	20 mg/kg	once	Dietary hypomagnesaemia and seizures	Moderate	478. Kirchgessner MS, Tully TN, Nevarez J, et al. Magnesium therapy in a hypocalcemic African grey parrot (Psittacus erithacus). J Avian Med Surg. 2012;26(1):17-21. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.476 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 5.11 (Nutritional/Mineral Support and Supplementation 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. — CORROBORATED 2026-08-06 by independent literature: Magnesium therapy in a hypocalcemic African grey parrot (Psittacus erithacus). (Journal of avian medicine and surgery, 2012). doi:10.1647/2009-021.1. https://doi.org/10.1647/2009-021.1. The paper reports this drug at this dose in this species: "upplementation for 4 days. Baseline magnesium levels in this parrot were determined to be 1.9 […]". This is a second source alongside the book already cited; it corroborates the figure and does not by itself establish that the dose is correct. — SOURCE EDITION: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — ISBN 9780323833929, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323833929

Full Magnesium Sulfate dosing in African Grey Parrots →Calculate for this african grey parrot →

Midazolam(Versed)

Anesthetic

Route	Dose	Frequency	Duration	Indication	Evidence	Source
IV	0.5–1 mg/kg	once	Emergency	Seizure control	Moderate	Abou-Madi N. Avian anesthesia. Vet Clin North Am Exot Anim Pract. 2001;4:147-167. — Verified against Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.454 (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

Full Midazolam dosing in African Grey Parrots →Calculate for this african grey parrot →

Midazolam Injectable(Versed)

Neurological

Route	Dose	Frequency	Duration	Indication	Evidence	Source
IM	0.5–2 mg/kg	IM	As needed	Sedation, seizures	Moderate	Abou-Madi N. Avian anesthesia. Vet Clin North Am Exot Anim Pract. 2001;4:147-167. — Verified against Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.454 (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

Full Midazolam Injectable dosing in African Grey Parrots →Calculate for this african grey parrot →

Zonisamide(Zonegran)

Anticonvulsant

Route	Dose	Frequency	Indication	Evidence	Source
PO	20 mg/kg	q8-12h	Anti-seizure	Moderate	73. Beaufrère H, Nevarez J, Gaschen L, et al. Diagnosis of presumed acute ischemic stroke and associated seizure management in a Congo African grey parrot. J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2011;239(1):122-128. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.474 doi:10.2460/javma.239.1.122 — 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

Full Zonisamide dosing in African Grey Parrots →Calculate for this african grey parrot →

All drugs cited for Seizures and Epilepsy →All drugs for African Grey Parrots →

Other conditions in African Grey Parrots

Bacterial Infections Pain Management 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.