Bird · Ara ararauna · typical adult weight 0.90–1.30 kg
Vitamin A is dosed at 5000 IU/kg IM q24h in blue-and-gold macaws, per Coles BH. Prescribing for exotic birds. In: Bishop Y, eds. The Veterinary Formulary, 5th ed., Pharmaceutical Press, London, UK; 2001:99-105. — Mined from Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.477 (2026-08-01, PENDING REVIEW). Vitamin A is used in blue-and-gold macaws for Respiratory or epithelial disease (adjunctive). Routes documented in blue-and-gold macaws: IM. A typical adult blue-and-gold macaw weighs 0.90–1.30 kg. ExoticRx lists 1 cited dose rule for Vitamin A in blue-and-gold macaws, drawn from published veterinary references. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
| Route | Dose | Frequency | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IM | 5000 IU/kg | q24h | Respiratory or epithelial disease (adjunctive) | Weak | Coles BH. Prescribing for exotic birds. In: Bishop Y, eds. The Veterinary Formulary, 5th ed., Pharmaceutical Press, London, UK; 2001:99-105. — Mined from Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.477 (2026-08-01, PENDING REVIEW) |
Need the exact dose for your patient?
These ranges are per kg. Enter your blue-and-gold macaw's weight to get the precise dose and draw-up volume — unit and concentration math done for you.
Essential fat-soluble vitamin required for vision, epithelial integrity, immune function, and reproduction. Deficiency common in captive reptiles and turtles on inadequate diets.
NARROW therapeutic index — hypervitaminosis A causes hepatotoxicity and skin sloughing. Do not overdose. Particularly important in chelonians and box turtles. Toxicity signs include skin peeling.
Species-specific contraindications and adverse-reaction reports for blue-and-gold macaws may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.
Vitamin A dose range in blue-and-gold macaws, with cited source references: IM 5000 IU/kg q24h. Reference ranges from cited sources — verify against current literature before clinical use.
Documented routes for Vitamin A in blue-and-gold macaws: IM.
Vitamin A is indicated in blue-and-gold macaws for: Respiratory or epithelial disease (adjunctive).
These are general warnings for Vitamin A across species; consult the blue-and-gold macaw dosing table above for species-specific guidance. NARROW therapeutic index — hypervitaminosis A causes hepatotoxicity and skin sloughing. Do not overdose. Particularly important in chelonians and box turtles. Toxicity signs include skin peeling.
Why a species-specific page? Vitamin A pharmacokinetics differ across species: dose ranges, intervals, and route preferences are not interchangeable. Cross-extrapolation from canine doses is unsafe in blue-and-gold macaws — 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.