Clinical Evaluation of Alfaxalone in Cyclodextrin as an Intravenous Anesthetic in the Common Buzzards (Buteo buteo)

There has not been any report about the use of the Alfaxan-CD(R) in common buzzard. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of Alfaxan-CD(R) as an intravenous anesthetic agent for inducing anesthesia in the common buzzard and describe some of its clinical pharmacological effects. Eight healthy adult common buzzards (Buteo buteo) of unknown sex, weighing 750–1000 grams, kept in captivity at the Dilek Peninsula National Park located in Aydin, Turkey, and appropriately fed (i.e.: rats, mice, rabbits, and day-old chicks) were included in this study. Birds were given alfaxalone (10 mg/kg, by 2-4 mg/kg boluses) intravenously. Variables measured before, and 5, 10, 15, 20, 30, and 90 minutes after induction were the followings: heart rate (HR, beats/min), respiratory rate (RR, breaths/min), cloacal temperature (CT), hemoglobin concentration (Hb), sodium (Na+), potassium (K+), ionized calcium (iCa++), arterial pH (pHa), arterial oxygen tension (PaO2), arterial carbon dioxide tension (PaCO2), bicarbonate concentration (HCO3) and base excess (BE). All buzzards survived the alfaxalone anesthesia. In this study, alfaxalone provided excellent muscle relaxation and a moderate level of anesthesia. Buzzards given alfaxalone developed primary respiratory acidosis. Base excess and HCO3 were within the reference range and did not significantly change, indicating a primary respiratory acidosis without metabolic component. All physiologic parameters, except cloacal temperature, returned to approximate baseline values at recovery after anesthesia with alfaxalone. This study indicated that alfaxalone produced good to excellent anesthesia in buzzards, characterized by rapid induction of anesthesia, excellent muscle relaxation, unresponsiveness to noxious stimuli, and smooth, uneventful recovery from anesthesia. Hypoventilation and apnea were uncommon at clinically relevant doses but became the most important adverse effects when larger doses were administered rapidly IV.