Meloxicam in psittacines needs to be dosed every 12 hours at higher-than-mammal doses to provide analgesia

(Cole, Paul-Murphy, et al, JAVMA, 2009, vol 70 no 12)

(Parrots had artifically induced arthritis in ONE tarsal joint and the lameness in that joint was monitored via measuring how much less weight the bird bore on that limb compared to the healthy limb.)

Meloxicam dosed at 1.0 mg/kg q12h to parrots with induced arthritis (in one pelvic limb) DID provide significantly quicker return to normal weight-bearing on the arthritic limb than lower doses.

Clinical points:

-occult blood was not present in the feces of any birds

-at 1.0 mg/kg, parrots returned to normal weight-bearing in 12 hours (after administration), whereas with lower doses it took 38 hours.

-while this study did not monitor renal values or perform necropsies (animals were not sacrificed), many board-certified practitioners routinely use meloxicam at 0.5 mg/kg q12h in psittacines

-new studies (not yet published) have found the half life of meloxicam to be DAYS in pelicans, so caution should be used in waterbirds until further studies have been done

Tramadol 5mg/kg q1-2d or 10mg/kg q4d actually provides ANALGESIA to TURTLES!

(Baker, Sladky & Johnson; JAVMA, 2011, vol 238, no 2)

TRAMADOL given 5-10 mg/kg PO to red-eared sliders actually increased the thermal withdrawl latency (the time it takes for an animal to remove it's limb from an area with increasing heat)==>we assume this to mean it provided analgesia! AND 5mg/kg did not depress respirations.

clinical points:

-5mg/kg should be dosed q1-2d and 10mg/kg should be dosed q4d

-mild respiratory depression could be seen at 10mg/kg so monitor if an aquatic turtle

-to give oral medications to turtles, use an appropriate size metal gavage needle to dispense the medication into the stomach while another holds the turtles head out (don't try with healthy snappers...obviously)

-takes 6 hours to be effective