Bird · Psittacus erithacus · typical adult weight 0.40–0.65 kg
Butorphanol is dosed at 1–2 mg/kg IM not stated in source in african grey parrots, per Sanchez-Migallon Guzman D, Flammer K, Paul-Murphy J, et al. Pharmacokinetics of butorphanol after oral, intravenous and intramuscular administration in Hispaniolan Amazon parrots (Amazona ventralis). J Avian Med Surg. 2011;25:185-191. doi:10.1647/2009-054.1 — 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. Butorphanol is used in african grey parrots for Acute pain, sedation adjunct, Pain management, sedation. Routes documented in african grey parrots: IM. A typical adult african grey parrot weighs 0.40–0.65 kg. ExoticRx lists 2 cited dose rules for Butorphanol in african grey parrots, drawn from published veterinary references. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
US trade names: Torbugesic, Torbutrol
| Route | Dose | Frequency | Duration | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IM | 1–2 mg/kg | not stated in source | As needed | Acute pain, sedation adjunct | Moderate | Sanchez-Migallon Guzman D, Flammer K, Paul-Murphy J, et al. Pharmacokinetics of butorphanol after oral, intravenous and intramuscular administration in Hispaniolan Amazon parrots (Amazona ventralis). J Avian Med Surg. 2011;25:185-191. doi:10.1647/2009-054.1 — 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 |
| 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 |
Every held source for this drug and species, as printed. Where they differ, both are shown — the choice is yours, not ours.
The sources disagree for this combination. The ranges below do not overlap on a comparable route. This is not an error in one of them — published veterinary references differ, and reconciling them for a particular patient is a clinical judgement.
| Dose (mg/kg) | Route | Source | As printed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | IM | BSAVA Manual of Psittacine Birds, 2nd edp.314 | 1 mg/kg i.m. once 0.02-0.04 mg/kg i.v. once | |
| 0.02–0.04 | IM | BSAVA Manual of Psittacine Birds, 2nd edp.314 | 1 mg/kg i.m. once 0.02-0.04 mg/kg i.v. once | |
| 0.3–4 | IM | BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, 10th ed — Part B (Exotic Pets)p.61 | 0.3-4 mg/kg i.m., i.v. q2-12h a,b |
| 3 | — |
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These ranges are per kg. Enter your african grey parrot's weight to get the precise dose and draw-up volume — unit and concentration math done for you.
Kappa-opioid receptor agonist and mu-opioid receptor antagonist. Provides visceral analgesia and sedation.
Short duration of action (1-2 hours). Better for visceral than somatic pain. Ceiling effect on analgesia. May cause sedation and mild respiratory depression.
Species-specific contraindications and adverse-reaction reports for african grey parrots may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.
Butorphanol dose ranges in african grey parrots, with cited source references: IM 1–2 mg/kg not stated in source; IM 1–4 mg/kg q2-4h. Reference ranges from cited sources — verify against current literature before clinical use.
Documented routes for Butorphanol in african grey parrots: IM.
Cited course lengths for Butorphanol in african grey parrots include: As needed. Duration depends on the indication — match it to the specific dose rule in the table above.
Butorphanol is indicated in african grey parrots for: Acute pain, sedation adjunct, Pain management, sedation.
These are general warnings for Butorphanol across species; consult the african grey parrot dosing table above for species-specific guidance. Short duration of action (1-2 hours). Better for visceral than somatic pain. Ceiling effect on analgesia. May cause sedation and mild respiratory depression.
Why a species-specific page? Butorphanol pharmacokinetics differ across species: dose ranges, intervals, and route preferences are not interchangeable. Cross-extrapolation from canine doses is unsafe in african grey parrots — the rules above are the citations specific to this species, not generic recommendations.
Sourced from published veterinary references; awaiting credentialed clinical reviewer. See our editorial process. Reference only — not veterinary advice.
| 3 mg/kg via the intranasal route combined with butorphanol. Use lower end doses for raptors. May |
| 1–2 | IM | Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th edTable 5.5 | 1-2 mg/kg IM,193 |
| 1–6 | IM | Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th edTable 5.5 | 1-6 mg/kg IM |
| 0.5–4 | IM | Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th edTable 5.5 | 0.5-4 mg/kg IM, IV q1- 4h,321,485,683,764,82 |
Figures are transcribed from the cited page or table of each held edition and are shown for reference only. They are not dose recommendations, they do not feed the calculator, and none has been reviewed by a veterinarian.