Pain Management in Mice
Pocket Pet · Mus musculus · typical adult weight 0.02–0.04 kg
17 cited drugs treat Pain Management in mice: Aspirin, Buprenorphine, Butorphanol, Firocoxib, Flunixin, Ketoprofen, Meloxicam, Meperidine, Metamizole, Methadone, Morphine, Nalbuphine, Oxymorphone, Pentazocine, Sustained-release buprenorphine, Tramadol, extended-release buprenorphine.
Multimodal analgesia spanning NSAIDs, opioids, local anaesthetics, NMDA antagonists (ketamine), α2 agonists, and adjuncts. Species safety matters: NSAIDs are unsafe in some reptiles, opioid receptor distributions differ in birds, and rabbits tolerate buprenorphine particularly well.
The overview above describes Pain Management across species; the citations below are the ExoticRx dose rules scoped to mice — a reference list, not new species-specific clinical guidance.
Aspirin(Bufferin, Ascriptin)
Analgesic| Route | Dose | Frequency | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PO | 50–150 mg/kg | q4-8h | Analgesia / anti-inflammatory | Moderate | 122. Meredith A. BSAVA Small Animal Formulary: Part B: Exotic Pets, British Small Animal Veterinary Association, Quedgeley, Gloucester, UK; 2015. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.789 — SOURCE EDITION: BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, Part B — Exotic Pets — ISBN 9781910443712, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9781910443712; Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — ISBN 9780323833929, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323833929 |
Buprenorphine(Simbadol, Buprenex)
Analgesic| Route | Dose | Frequency | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IP | 0.05–0.1 mg/kg | every 4-8 hours | Analgesia | Weak | Oh SS, Narver HL. Mouse and Rat Anesthesia and Analgesia. Curr Protoc. 2024 Feb;4(2):e995. doi:10.1002/cpz1.995. PMID: 38406895; PMCID: PMC10914332. URL: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10914332/ |
| SC | 0.9 mg/kg | single dose | Analgesia (postoperative/surgical pain); the study's tested and recommended dose. Per the paper it 'provides sufficient plasma concentrations for analgesia in mice for 6 to 12 h after administration, | Weak | Pharmacokinetics and Efficacy of a Long-lasting, Highly Concentrated Buprenorphine Solution in Mice. Journal of the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (JAALAS), 2021. PMID 32993847; DOI 10.30802/AALAS-JAALAS-20-000049; PMC7831350. URL: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7831350/ |
Butorphanol(Torbugesic, Torbutrol)
Analgesic| Route | Dose | Frequency | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SC | 1–5 mg/kg | every 2 hours | Analgesia | Weak | Oh SS, Narver HL. Mouse and Rat Anesthesia and Analgesia. Curr Protoc. 2024 Feb;4(2):e995. doi:10.1002/cpz1.995. PMID: 38406895; PMCID: PMC10914332. URL: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10914332/ |
Firocoxib(Previcox, Equioxx)
Analgesic| Route | Dose | Frequency | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IP | 10–20 mg/kg | q24h | Analgesia (COX-2 selective NSAID), incisional pain | Moderate | 143. Reddyjarugu B, Pavek T, Southard T, et al. Analgesic efficacy of firocoxib, a selective inhibitor of cyclooxygenase 2, in a mouse model of incisional pain. J Am Assoc Lab Anim Sci. 2015;54:405-410. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.791 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 9.4 (Analgesic Agents Used in Rodents). The copy held is an ebook conversion with no printed page numbers, so the table — not the page — is the citable location. — SOURCE EDITION: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — ISBN 9780323833929, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323833929 |
Flunixin
Uncategorized| Route | Dose | Frequency | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SC | 2.5 mg/kg | every 12-24 hours | Analgesia (NSAID) | Weak | Flecknell PA. Analgesia and post-operative care. Laboratory Animal Anaesthesia; 2016:141-192. doi:10.1016/b978-0-12-800036-6.00004-1 — Verified against Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.791 (2026-08-01). — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 9.4 (Analgesic Agents Used in Rodents). The copy held is an ebook conversion with no printed page numbers, so the table — not the page — is the citable location. — SOURCE EDITION: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — ISBN 9780323833929, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323833929 |
Ketoprofen(Ketofen)
Analgesic| Route | Dose | Frequency | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SC | 10–20 mg/kg | every 24 hours | Analgesia (NSAID) | Weak | Oh SS, Narver HL. Mouse and Rat Anesthesia and Analgesia. Curr Protoc. 2024 Feb;4(2):e995. doi:10.1002/cpz1.995. PMID: 38406895; PMCID: PMC10914332. URL: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10914332/ |
Meloxicam(Metacam)
Analgesic| Route | Dose | Frequency | Duration | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SC | 10 mg/kg | every 12 h | — | Post-operative analgesia (ovariectomy via ventral laparotomy); authors' concluded efficacious high dose | Weak | High-dose Meloxicam Provides Improved Analgesia in Female CD1 Mice: A Pharmacokinetic and Efficacy Study. J Am Assoc Lab Anim Sci (JAALAS). PMID 36755203; DOI 10.30802/AALAS-JAALAS-22-000064. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9936853/ URL: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9936853/ |
| SC | 20 mg/kg | daily (for 6 d) | Maximum 6 consecutive days at this dose (the cited study's longest tested duration). | Peri- and post-operative analgesia (Mouse Grimace Scale) | Weak | Sarfaty AE, Zeiss CJ, Willis AD, Harris JM, Smith PC. Concentration-dependent Toxicity after Subcutaneous Administration of Meloxicam to C57BL/6N Mice (Mus musculus). J Am Assoc Lab Anim Sci. 2019 Nov 1;58(6):802-809. PMID: 31540585. DOI: 10.30802/AALAS-JAALAS-19-000037. URL: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31540585/ |
| unspecified | 20 mg/kg | q24h | Maximum 6 consecutive days at this dose (the cited study's longest tested duration). | peri- and post-operative analgesia | Weak | Sarfaty AE, Zeiss CJ, Willis AD, Harris JM, Smith PC. Concentration-dependent Toxicity after Subcutaneous Administration of Meloxicam to C57BL/6N Mice (Mus musculus). J Am Assoc Lab Anim Sci. 2019 Nov 1;58(6):802-809. PMID: 31540585. DOI: 10.30802/AALAS-JAALAS-19-000037. URL: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31540585/ |
Meperidine
Analgesic| Route | Dose | Frequency | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SC, IM | 10–20 mg/kg | q2-3h | Analgesia (opioid) | Moderate | 51. Flecknell PA. Analgesia and post-operative care. Laboratory Animal Anaesthesia; 2016:141-192. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.792 doi:10.1016/b978-0-12-800036-6.00004-1 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 9.4 (Analgesic Agents Used in Rodents). The copy held is an ebook conversion with no printed page numbers, so the table — not the page — is the citable location. — SOURCE EDITION: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — ISBN 9780323833929, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323833929 |
Metamizole
Analgesic| Route | Dose | Frequency | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PO, SC | 20–50 mg/kg | q6-12h | Analgesia | Moderate | 46. Ewringmann A, Gloeckner B. Leitsymptome bei Meerschweinchen, Chinchilla und Degu, Enke, Stuttgart, Germany; 2012.; 47. Ewringmann A, Gloeckner B. Leitsymptome bei Hamster, Ratte, Maus und Rennmaus, Enke, Stuttgart, Germany; 2014. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.792 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 9.4 (Analgesic Agents Used in Rodents). The copy held is an ebook conversion with no printed page numbers, so the table — not the page — is the citable location. — SOURCE EDITION: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — ISBN 9780323833929, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323833929 |
Methadone(Methadose)
Analgesic| Route | Dose | Frequency | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SC, IM | 1–2 mg/kg | Not stated | Analgesia (opioid) | Weak | 7. Allweiler SI. How to improve anesthesia and analgesia in small mammals. Vet Clin North Am Exot Anim Pract. 2016;19:361-377. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.792 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 9.4 (Analgesic Agents Used in Rodents). The copy held is an ebook conversion with no printed page numbers, so the table — not the page — is the citable location. — SOURCE EDITION: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — ISBN 9780323833929, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323833929 |
Morphine
Analgesic| Route | Dose | Frequency | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SC, IM | 2–5 mg/kg | q4h | Analgesia (opioid) | Moderate | 7. Allweiler SI. How to improve anesthesia and analgesia in small mammals. Vet Clin North Am Exot Anim Pract. 2016;19:361-377.; 130. Morrisey JK, Carpenter JW. Formulary. In: Quesenberry KE, Carpenter JW, eds. Ferrets, Rabbits, and Rodents: Clinical Medicine and Surgery, 4th ed., Elsevier, St. Louis, MO; 2021:620-630. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.792 doi:10.1016/j.cvex.2016.01.012 — SOURCE EDITION: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — ISBN 9780323833929, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323833929; Ferrets, Rabbits, and Rodents: Clinical Medicine and Surgery — ISBN 9780323484350, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323484350 |
Nalbuphine(Nubain)
Neurological| Route | Dose | Frequency | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IM | 2–4 mg/kg | q4h | Analgesia (opioid agonist-antagonist) | Moderate | 51. Flecknell PA. Analgesia and post-operative care. Laboratory Animal Anaesthesia; 2016:141-192. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.793 doi:10.1016/b978-0-12-800036-6.00004-1 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 9.4 (Analgesic Agents Used in Rodents). The copy held is an ebook conversion with no printed page numbers, so the table — not the page — is the citable location. — SOURCE EDITION: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — ISBN 9780323833929, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323833929 |
Oxymorphone
Analgesic| Route | Dose | Frequency | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SC, IM | 0.2–0.5 mg/kg | q4h | Analgesia (opioid) | Moderate | 51. Flecknell PA. Analgesia and post-operative care. Laboratory Animal Anaesthesia; 2016:141-192.; 125. Miller AL, Richardson CA. Rodent analgesia. Vet Clin North Am Exot Anim Pract. 2011;14:81-92. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.793 doi:10.1016/b978-0-12-800036-6.00004-1 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 9.4 (Analgesic Agents Used in Rodents). The copy held is an ebook conversion with no printed page numbers, so the table — not the page — is the citable location. — SOURCE EDITION: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — ISBN 9780323833929, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323833929 |
Pentazocine(Talwin)
Neurological| Route | Dose | Frequency | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SC | 5–10 mg/kg | q3-4h | Analgesia (opioid agonist-antagonist) | Moderate | 51. Flecknell PA. Analgesia and post-operative care. Laboratory Animal Anaesthesia; 2016:141-192. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.793 doi:10.1016/b978-0-12-800036-6.00004-1 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 9.4 (Analgesic Agents Used in Rodents). The copy held is an ebook conversion with no printed page numbers, so the table — not the page — is the citable location. — SOURCE EDITION: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — ISBN 9780323833929, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323833929 |
Sustained-release buprenorphine
Uncategorized| Route | Dose | Frequency | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SC | 1 mg/kg | once | post-operative analgesia (incisional pain model) | Weak | Navarro KL, et al. Lipid bound extended release buprenorphine (high and low doses) and sustained release buprenorphine effectively attenuate post-operative hypersensitivity in an incisional pain model in mice (Mus musculus). Animal Models and Experimental Medicine. 2021. DOI 10.1002/ame2.12157; PMID 34179720; PMCID PMC8212827. URL: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8212827/ |
| SC | 0.6 mg/kg | q72h | Analgesia in a surgical model of pain (analgesia for at least 48 h). NOTE: reported by the paper as a finding of 'previous studies' (cited comparator), not a dose administered in this study. | Weak | Kendall LV, Wegenast DJ, Smith BJ, et al. Efficacy of sustained-release buprenorphine in an experimental laparotomy model in female mice. J Am Assoc Lab Anim Sci. 2016;55:66-73. — Verified against Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.790 (2026-08-01). — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 9.4 (Analgesic Agents Used in Rodents). The copy held is an ebook conversion with no printed page numbers, so the table — not the page — is the citable location. — SOURCE EDITION: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — ISBN 9780323833929, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323833929 |
Tramadol
Analgesic| Route | Dose | Frequency | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SC | 10–40 mg/kg | q12h | Analgesia (opioid) | Weak | 122. Meredith A. BSAVA Small Animal Formulary: Part B: Exotic Pets, British Small Animal Veterinary Association, Quedgeley, Gloucester, UK; 2015. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.793 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 9.4 (Analgesic Agents Used in Rodents). The copy held is an ebook conversion with no printed page numbers, so the table — not the page — is the citable location. — SOURCE EDITION: BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, Part B — Exotic Pets — ISBN 9781910443712, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9781910443712; Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — ISBN 9780323833929, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323833929 |
extended-release buprenorphine
Uncategorized| Route | Dose | Frequency | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SC | 6.5 mg/kg | once | post-operative analgesia (incisional pain model) | Weak | Navarro KL, et al. Lipid bound extended release buprenorphine (high and low doses) and sustained release buprenorphine effectively attenuate post-operative hypersensitivity in an incisional pain model in mice (Mus musculus). Animal Models and Experimental Medicine. 2021. DOI 10.1002/ame2.12157; PMID 34179720; PMCID PMC8212827. URL: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8212827/ |
| SC | 3.25 mg/kg | once | post-operative analgesia (incisional pain model) | Weak | ETHIQA XR - Buprenorphine Hydrochloride Injection, Suspension, Extended Release [US Product Label]. New Brunswick, NJ: Fidelis Pharmaceuticals; 2021. https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=6205ff58-853f-4987-b099-c1e263385fc8 — Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.181 (2026-08-01). — Plumb's 10th ed (held) printed p.150, Buprenorphine monograph spanning p.150-154; page located 2026-08-05 from the book's own running heads, verified to name the drug in its body text. — SOURCE EDITION: Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook — ISBN 9781394172207, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9781394172207 |
Sourced from published veterinary references; awaiting credentialed clinical reviewer. See our editorial process. Reference only — not veterinary advice. Verify against current literature before clinical use.