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HAGIA SOPHIA 10th INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON MULTIDISCIPLINARY SCIENTIFIC STUDIES, 27 - 28 February 2026, pp.330-335, (Full Text)
Sedation and anaesthesia management in avian species constitutes one of the most challenging areas of veterinary medicine due to species-specific anatomical and physiological variations. In routine diagnostic procedures such as physical examination, imaging, or sample collection, ensuring effective sedation while minimising stress is of critical importance. Although intramuscular (IM) and intravenous (IV) administrations are traditionally preferred, these methods may not always represent the ideal options, particularly in wild and exotic avian medicine. Intramuscular (IM) administrations carry the risk of inducing pain at the injection site or causing administration-related trauma. While intravenous (IV) administrations provide a rapid onset of action, they may present technical difficulties in accessing the vascular route due to the thin and fragile vessel structure, particularly in small-sized species. Furthermore, the physical restraint required during administration can trigger catecholamine release in an already stressed animal, potentially worsening negative effects on the cardiopulmonary system. Iatrogenic risks, such as haematoma formation and vascular injury, may also be encountered as a consequence of these routes of administration. In light of these challenges, intranasal (IN) administration has emerged as a contemporary and safe alternative in both human and veterinary medicine for sedation, anaesthesia, and emergency procedures. The most important advantage of this method is its non-invasive nature. The rich vascularisation of the nasal mucosa enables therapeutic agents to bypass the blood-brain barrier and reach the central nervous system directly—without undergoing the first-pass effect—thereby facilitating the rapid entry of the active substance into systemic circulation. Consequently, injection-related pain and capture stress are minimised. In conclusion, in contrast to the risks of tissue damage and elevated stress associated with invasive methods, intranasal administration offers a safe protocol option that enhances animal welfare when the appropriate patient and agent are selected.