The purpose of this study was to determine the pharmacokinetics of cannabidiol (CBD), a potential treatment option that may alleviate pain in companion animals and humans, in the Hispaniolan Amazon parrot (Amazona ventralis). A pilot study administered a single oral dose of CBD in hemp oil at 10 mg/kg to 2 birds and 20 mg/kg to 2 birds. Because the maximum serum concentrations (Cmax) for these doses were 5.5 and 13 ng/mL, respectively, and the serum half-life was 2 hours for both groups, the doses were considered too low for clinical use in this species. Therefore, a study was designed in which 14 healthy 12–14-year-old parrots of both sexes and weighing 0.24–0.35 kg (mean, 0.28 kg) were enrolled. Seven birds were administered 60 mg/kg CBD PO, and 7 birds were administered 120 mg/kg CBD PO. Blood samples were obtained at time 0, and at 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, and 10 hours posttreatment in a balanced incomplete block design. Quantification of plasma CBD concentrations was determined by use of a validated liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry assay. Pharmacokinetic parameters were determined by noncompartmental analysis. The areas under the curve (h·ng/mL) were 518 and 1863, Cmax (ng/ mL) were 213 and 562, and times to achieve Cmax (hours) were 0.5 and 4 for the 60 and 120 mg/kg doses, respectively. The serum half-life could not be determined in the 60 mg/kg treatment, but was 1.28 hours at 120 mg/kg. Adverse effects were not observed in any bird. The highly variable results and short half-life of the drug in Hispaniolan Amazon parrots, even at high doses, suggests that this drug formulation was inconsistent in achieving targeted concentrations as reported in other animal species.
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9 August 2022
Pharmacokinetics of Cannabidiol in the Hispaniolan Amazon Parrot (Amazona ventralis)
James W. Carpenter,
Thomas N. Tully Jr,
Kelly Rockwell,
Butch KuKanich
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Amazona ventralis
Avian
cannabidiol
cannabinoids
CBD
Hispaniolan Amazon parrot
pain