A comparative study on some cardiopulmonary effects, anesthesia quality, and recovery time of isoflurane vs. propofol in domestic pigeons (Columba livia domesticus)

It is commonly acknowledged that the most safe and method of choice anesthesia in birds is inhalation anesthesia but in some clinical situations, such as tracheal resection, injectable anesthetic agents are the only choice of surgeons regardless of whether or not an anesthesia machine is available. This study aimed to compare the quality of anesthesia and recovery time of isoflurane and propofol in domestic pigeons. Twenty pigeons (Columba livia domesticus), weighing 302.5±37.95g (Mean ± SD) were randomly allocated to two groups of ten. One group was anesthetized by isoflurane (Iso-group), and the anesthesia lasted for 30 minutes. The other group received 14 mg/kg of propofol (1%) at constant rate (CRI) through basilica (wing) vein catheter to induce anesthesia (Pro-group). 1.33 mg/kg per min of propofol was infused to keep pigeons anesthetized for 30 minutes, using an injection pump. Temperature, heart rate, respiratory rate, and percentage of oxygen saturation of hemoglobin (SpO2%) were recorded in all three phases including before induction of anesthesia, during anesthesia at minutes 1, 3, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30, and after recovery time in both groups. Anesthesia caused significant effects on respiratory rate, heart rate, and SpO2% (p≤0.05). Recovery times in both groups were significantly different (longer in propofol group). Our findings revealed that the pigeons anesthetized with isoflurane have a soft and fast anesthesia; however, the pigeons were anesthetized with propofol, had a rough induction that was not uniform for all pigeons. Isoflurane showed that it is safer than propofol to anesthetize pigeons.