Bird · Agapornis roseicollis · typical adult weight 0.04–0.06 kg
Penicillamine is dosed at 50–55 mg/kg PO q24h x 1-6 wk in lovebirds, per 206. De Francisco N, Ruiz Troya JD, Aguera EI. Lead and lead toxicity in domestic and free living birds. Avian Pathol. 2003;32:3-13. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.469 doi:10.1080/0307945021000070660 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 5.9 (Agents Used in the Treatment of Toxicologic Conditions of 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. Penicillamine is used in lovebirds for Heavy-metal (lead/zinc/copper/mercury) toxicosis chelation. Routes documented in lovebirds: PO. A typical adult lovebird weighs 0.04–0.06 kg. ExoticRx lists 1 cited dose rule for Penicillamine in lovebirds, drawn from published veterinary references. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
US trade names: Cuprimine, Depen, D-Penicillamine
| Route | Dose | Frequency | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PO | 50–55 mg/kg | q24h x 1-6 wk | Heavy-metal (lead/zinc/copper/mercury) toxicosis chelation | Moderate | 206. De Francisco N, Ruiz Troya JD, Aguera EI. Lead and lead toxicity in domestic and free living birds. Avian Pathol. 2003;32:3-13. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.469 doi:10.1080/0307945021000070660 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 5.9 (Agents Used in the Treatment of Toxicologic Conditions of 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 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 55 | PO | BSAVA Manual of Psittacine Birds, 2nd edp.315 | 55 mg/kg orally q12h | Chelating agent for use in heavy metal toxicosis. Low therapeutic index. Overdosage may result in vomition.hypoglycaemia and death. The dose should, therefor |
| 30–55 | PO | Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th edTable 5.9 | 30-55 mg/kg PO q12h × 7-14 days |
| 50–55 | PO | Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th edTable 5.9 | 50-55 mg/kg PO q24h × 1-6 wk |
| 30 | PO |
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These ranges are per kg. Enter your lovebird's weight to get the precise dose and draw-up volume — unit and concentration math done for you.
Chelates copper, lead, mercury, and other heavy metals, forming soluble complexes excreted by the kidneys. Also has anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties.
Give on empty stomach (1 hour before or 2 hours after meals). GI upset common — start low and increase gradually. Monitor CBC and urinalysis (proteinuria). Primary use: copper-associated hepatopathy (Bedlington Terriers, others).
Species-specific contraindications and adverse-reaction reports for lovebirds may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.
Penicillamine dose range in lovebirds, with cited source references: PO 50–55 mg/kg q24h x 1-6 wk. Reference ranges from cited sources — verify against current literature before clinical use.
Documented routes for Penicillamine in lovebirds: PO.
Penicillamine is indicated in lovebirds for: Heavy-metal (lead/zinc/copper/mercury) toxicosis chelation.
These are general warnings for Penicillamine across species; consult the lovebird dosing table above for species-specific guidance. Give on empty stomach (1 hour before or 2 hours after meals). GI upset common — start low and increase gradually. Monitor CBC and urinalysis (proteinuria). Primary use: copper-associated hepatopathy (Bedlington Terriers, others).
Why a species-specific page? Penicillamine pharmacokinetics differ across species: dose ranges, intervals, and route preferences are not interchangeable. Cross-extrapolation from canine doses is unsafe in lovebirds — 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.
| Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th edTable 5.9 |
| 30 mg/kg PO q12h × ≥7 days |
| 10–100 | IM | Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th edTable 5.9 | 10-100 mg/kg IM q24- 48h or repeat once q6h,509 |
| 100 | IM | Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th edTable 5.9 | 100 mg/kg IM once |
| 55 | PO | Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th edTable 5.9 | 55 mg/kg PO q12h x 10 days |
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.