Cardiovascular tolerance of intravenous lidocaine in broiler chickens (Gallus gallus domesticus) anesthetized with isoflurane

Previous reports state that the dose of lidocaine used in birds should be =4 mg kg−1. In this study, 6 mg kg−1 of lidocaine injected IV was not associated with adverse cardiovascular effects. These results suggest that the dose of 4 mg kg−1 can be exceeded, at least in chickens, and opens the possibility of other therapeutic uses for lidocaine in birds.