Robenacoxib for Macaws: Uses, Dosing & Side Effects

This information is for educational purposes only. Never give your pet any medication without your veterinarian's guidance. Dosing, frequency, and safety depend on your pet's specific health profile.

Robenacoxib is a prescription nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) in the coxib family. It works by selectively blocking COX-2, an enzyme involved in pain and inflammation. In dogs and cats, it is sold under the brand name Onsior and is used for pain and inflammation after surgery and with some musculoskeletal problems.

For macaws, robenacoxib is not an FDA-approved bird medication. When it is used in parrots, it is generally extra-label and should only be prescribed by your vet, ideally one with avian experience. That matters because birds process medications differently than dogs and cats, and the evidence base in psittacines is still limited.

Recent avian data are encouraging but still incomplete. A 2025 pharmacokinetic study in Hispaniolan Amazon parrots found that a single 4 mg/kg oral dose was well tolerated, reached peak blood levels quickly, and was no longer detectable by 6 hours. That suggests robenacoxib may move through parrots faster than it does in dogs or cats, which is one reason bird dosing should never be copied from mammal labels.

In macaws, robenacoxib may be considered when pain and inflammation are part of the problem. Your vet may discuss it for orthopedic pain, soft tissue inflammation, arthritis, or post-procedure discomfort. In avian medicine references, robenacoxib is also listed as an option used in some birds for arthritis and in selected cases involving avian bornavirus-related inflammation.

That does not mean every sore or fluffed-up macaw needs an NSAID. Pain in birds can be subtle, and signs like quiet behavior, reduced climbing, decreased appetite, or reluctance to perch can also happen with infection, trauma, organ disease, egg-related problems, or neurologic illness. Your vet may recommend robenacoxib only after an exam and, in many cases, baseline bloodwork.

Because the bird evidence is still developing, robenacoxib is usually part of a treatment plan, not a stand-alone answer. Depending on the cause, that plan may also include cage rest, supportive feeding, fluid support, imaging, physical rehabilitation changes, or a different pain medication. The best option depends on your macaw's diagnosis, hydration status, liver and kidney health, and how urgently pain control is needed.

There is no universal at-home dose for macaws. Robenacoxib dosing in birds is still being studied, and the right plan depends on species, body weight, route, and the condition being treated. In the Merck Veterinary Manual's bird osteoarthritis table, robenacoxib is listed at 2-10 mg/kg IM weekly for 4 weeks, then monthly for avian bornavirus or arthritis. A 2025 parrot pharmacokinetic study found a single 4 mg/kg oral dose was tolerated in Hispaniolan Amazon parrots, but the authors also noted that more pharmacodynamic work is needed before firm psittacine dosing recommendations can be made.

For a macaw, your vet may choose an injectable dose in hospital, an oral compounded formulation, or a different NSAID altogether. Birds vary widely in size and metabolism, so even two parrots in the same household should not share medication. Tablet strengths made for dogs and cats are often inappropriate for direct bird use without careful calculation or compounding.

Give this medication exactly as labeled by your vet. Do not increase the dose, shorten the interval, or combine it with another pain reliever unless your vet tells you to. If a dose is missed, contact your vet for instructions rather than doubling the next dose. If your macaw stops eating, vomits, seems weak, or has a sudden change in droppings after a dose, stop and call your vet right away.

Like other NSAIDs, robenacoxib can cause digestive, kidney, liver, and behavior-related side effects. In dogs and cats, reported problems include reduced appetite, lethargy, depression, vomiting, diarrhea, kidney injury, and in rare cases serious reactions without much warning. Birds may show these problems differently, so pet parents often notice fluffing, quiet behavior, less climbing, weakness, less interest in food, or changes in droppings first.

For macaws, call your vet immediately if you notice not eating, repeated regurgitation or vomiting, black or bloody droppings, marked weakness, wobbliness, seizures, unusual bruising or bleeding, yellow discoloration of skin or tissues, or changes in drinking and urination. Birds can decline fast once they stop eating, so even a "mild" appetite drop matters more in a parrot than it might in a dog.

Risk is higher if a macaw is dehydrated or already has kidney, liver, heart, bleeding, or gastrointestinal disease. That is why many avian vets want baseline bloodwork and follow-up monitoring when NSAIDs are used beyond a very short course. If your macaw seems painful but has a history of organ disease, your vet may recommend a different medication or a more conservative monitoring plan.

The most important interaction rule is this: do not combine robenacoxib with another NSAID or with a corticosteroid unless your vet specifically directs it. In small-animal references, robenacoxib should be avoided with other NSAIDs and steroids such as prednisone or dexamethasone because the combination can raise the risk of stomach or intestinal ulceration, bleeding, and kidney injury.

Other medications can also increase concern, especially in a sick or dehydrated bird. VCA lists cyclosporine, furosemide, SSRIs, and tricyclic antidepressants among medications of concern with robenacoxib. In practical avian care, your vet will also want to know about all supplements, compounded medications, liver support products, and any recent pain medicines or injections.

Before starting robenacoxib, tell your vet if your macaw has had a past NSAID reaction, is on diuretics, has kidney or liver disease, or is receiving any medication that can affect hydration, clotting, or the gastrointestinal tract. If your bird needs more than one medication, your vet can help build a plan that balances pain control with safety.