Pain Management in Sugar Gliders
Pocket Pet · Petaurus breviceps · typical adult weight 0.08–0.16 kg
9 cited drugs treat Pain Management in sugar gliders: Buprenorphine, Butorphanol, Carprofen, Flunixin Meglumine, Gabapentin, Ketoprofen, Meloxicam, Methadone, Tramadol.
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 sugar gliders — a reference list, not new species-specific clinical guidance.
Buprenorphine(Simbadol, Buprenex)
Analgesic| Route | Dose | Frequency | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SC | 0.02 mg/kg | as needed (rescue analgesia, if deemed to be in… | Rescue analgesia | Anecdotal | Morrisey JK, Carpenter JW, et al. Formulary. In: Quesenberry KE, OrcuttCJ, Mans C, et al. Ferrets, Rabbits, and Rodents: Clinical Medicine and Surgery, 4th ed., Elsevier, St. Louis, MO; 2021:620-630.; Ness RD, Johnson-Delaney C. Sugar gliders. In: Quesenberry KE, Carpenter JW, eds. Ferrets, Rabbits, and Rodents: Clinical Medicine and Surgery, 3rd ed., Saunders/Elsevier, St. Louis, MO; 2012:393-410. — Carpenter's 6th ed, Table 7.3 (Chemical Restraint/Anesthetic Agents Used in Sugar Gliders).Compilation only — we have not located an independent source that prints this figure. |
Butorphanol(Torbugesic, Torbutrol)
Analgesic| Route | Dose | Frequency | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SC or IM | 0.1–0.5 mg/kg | q 6–8 h | Analgesia | Weak | Morrisey JK, Carpenter JW, et al. Formulary. In: Quesenberry KE, OrcuttCJ, Mans C, et al. Ferrets, Rabbits, and Rodents: Clinical Medicine and Surgery, 4th ed., Elsevier, St. Louis, MO; 2021:620-630.; Ness RD, Johnson-Delaney C. Sugar gliders. In: Quesenberry KE, Carpenter JW, eds. Ferrets, Rabbits, and Rodents: Clinical Medicine and Surgery, 3rd ed., Saunders/Elsevier, St. Louis, MO; 2012:393-410. — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 7.4 (Analgesic Agents Used in Sugar Gliders).Compilation only — we have not located an independent source that prints this figure. |
Carprofen(Rimadyl, Novox)
Analgesic| Route | Dose | Frequency | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PO | 2 mg/kg | q12h | Analgesia / anti-inflammatory | Moderate | Kubiak M. Sugar gliders. In: Kubiak M, eds. Handbook of Exotic Pet Medicine; Wiley Blackwell, Oxford, UK; 2021:125-139. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.710 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 7.4 (Analgesic Agents Used in Sugar Gliders).Compilation only — we have not located an independent source that prints this figure. |
| SC | 4 mg/kg | initial dose, then 2 mg/kg q24h | Analgesia / anti-inflammatory | Weak | Bodley K. Appendix 4. Drug Formulary. In: Vogelnest L, Portas T, eds. Current Therapy in Medicine of Australian Mammals; CSIRO Publishing, Clayton South, Vic; 2019:702-727. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.710 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 7.4 (Analgesic Agents Used in Sugar Gliders).Compilation only — we have not located an independent source that prints this figure. |
Flunixin Meglumine(Banamine)
Analgesic| Route | Dose | Frequency | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SC, IM | 1 mg/kg | q12-24h up to 3 days | Analgesia / anti-inflammatory | Moderate | Jepson L. Sugar gliders. In: Jepson L, eds. Exotic Animal Medicine: A Quick Reference Guide, 2nd ed., Elsevier, St. Louis, MO; 2016:231-257. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.710 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 7.4 (Analgesic Agents Used in Sugar Gliders).Compilation only — we have not located an independent source that prints this figure. |
Gabapentin(Neurontin)
Analgesic| Route | Dose | Frequency | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PO | 3–5 mg/kg | q 8–24 h | For neurotropic pain and anxiety; possible sedation at higher doses | Weak | Johnson-Delaney CA. Personal observation; 2020. — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 7.4 (Analgesic Agents Used in Sugar Gliders).Compilation only — we have not located an independent source that prints this figure. |
Ketoprofen(Ketofen)
Analgesic| Route | Dose | Frequency | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SC | 1 mg/kg | not stated | Analgesia / anti-inflammatory | Weak | Kubiak M. Sugar gliders. In: Kubiak M, eds. Handbook of Exotic Pet Medicine; Wiley Blackwell, Oxford, UK; 2021:125-139. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.710 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 7.4 (Analgesic Agents Used in Sugar Gliders).Compilation only — we have not located an independent source that prints this figure. |
Meloxicam(Metacam)
Analgesic| Route | Dose | Frequency | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PO | 0.2 mg/kg | every 24 hours | Analgesia / antiinflammatory (NSAID) | Anecdotal | Hess L. Sugar gliders. In: Aiello SE, eds. Merck Veterinary Manual; Merck & Co., Kenilworth, NJ; 2016:2035-2043.; Ness RD, Johnson-Delaney C. Sugar gliders. In: Quesenberry KE, Carpenter JW, eds. Ferrets, Rabbits, and Rodents: Clinical Medicine and Surgery, 3rd ed., Saunders/Elsevier, St. Louis, MO; 2012:393-410.Compilation only — we have not located an independent source that prints this figure. |
| PO | 0.5 mg/kg | once a day | Mammary carcinoma (analgesia) | Anecdotal | Keller KA, Nevarez JG, Rodriguez D, et al. Diagnosis and treatment of anaplastic mammary carcinoma in a sugar glider (Petaurus breviceps). J Exot Pet Med. 2014;23:277-282. doi:10.1053/j.jepm.2014.06.008 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 7.4 (Analgesic Agents Used in Sugar Gliders). |
| SC, PO | 0.2 mg/kg | before the procedure | Perioperative analgesia (NSAID) | Anecdotal | D'Urso ES, Martorelli M, Bersanetti G, Selleri P, De Gennaro C. Combination of Dexmedetomidine and Low-Dose Ketamine in 4 Sugar Gliders (Petaurus breviceps) Undergoing Elective Castration. Vet Sci. 2025;12:699. doi:10.3390/vetsci12080699. Open access, full text read. Source of the verbatim methods passage held in this rule's notes: "Balanced electrolytic solution 10 mL/kg (Hartmann's lactated ringers), enrofloxacin 5 mg/kg diluted […]" n=4, no control arm, and the paper itself states "The pharmacokinetic profile of meloxicam in sugar gliders has not been studied yet". Dose figure corroborated by carpenter Table 7.4 (Analgesic Agents Used in Sugar Gliders): "0.1-0.2 mg/kg q24h PO, SC11,32" and "0.2 mg/kg PO, SC q12h30". carpenter prints q24h or q12h, never "before the procedure", and gives no perioperative framing. |
Methadone(Methadose)
Analgesic| Route | Dose | Frequency | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SC | 0.15–0.4 mg/kg | q4-6h for 24-48 hr only | Severe trauma cases (analgesia) | Moderate | Bodley K. Appendix 4. Drug Formulary. In: Vogelnest L, Portas T, eds. Current Therapy in Medicine of Australian Mammals; CSIRO Publishing, Clayton South, Vic; 2019:702-727. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.710 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 7.4 (Analgesic Agents Used in Sugar Gliders).Compilation only — we have not located an independent source that prints this figure. |
Tramadol
Analgesic| Route | Dose | Frequency | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PO | 2 mg/kg | twice a day | Paracloacal gland carcinoma (analgesia) | Anecdotal | Hoppes S. Medicine and diseases of sugar gliders. Presented at: Southwest Veterinary Symposium; 2016. PMID: 42432024 — Plumb's 10th ed printed p.1261, Tramadol monograph spanning p.1261-1263. |
Other conditions in Sugar Gliders
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.