The sedative effect of intranasal administration of some sedative agents in budgerigar (Melopsittacus undulatus

This study was assigned to evaluate the sedative effect of intranasal administration of xylazine or diazepam (with or without Chitosan) in budgerigar. A pilot study conducted to determine the effective dose of each drug that cause adequate sedation in these birds and on which the experiment 2 was built. It involved slowly administration of various increasing doses with equal volumes of each drug into each nostril. The dose va1ued 26 and 12 mg/kg. BW. for xylazine and diazepam respectively. In experiment 2, the onset of action, duration of sedation, and duration of dorsal recumbency induced by administratIon of each drug at its effective dose were studied. The combined intranasal administration of chitosan with xylazine or diazepam on sedation quality also was investigated. Intranasal administration of xylazine or diazepam at their effective dose caused adequate sedation in budgerigar where xylazine caused significant prolongation (P 0.05) in duration of sedation than that induced by diazepam, although xylazine failed to induce dorsal recumbency as that induced by diazepam. A combined administration of chitosan with xylazine or diazepam caused significant prolongation (P 0.05) in both duration of sedation induced by xylazine and duration of sedation and dorsal recumbency induced by diazepam compared to each agent when given alone indicating an obvious absorption enhancer effect of chitosan The best results were obtained after administration of diazepam- chitosan formulation. It was concluded that intranasal administration of xylazine or diazepam produce rapid and adequate sedation, also chitosan enhance the absorption of both xylazine or diazepam when administered in conjunction.