Sedation in Sulcata Tortoises

Reptile · Centrochelys sulcata · typical adult weight 1.00–40.00 kg

9 cited drugs treat Sedation in sulcata tortoises: Butorphanol, Dexmedetomidine, Hydromorphone, Ketamine, Medetomidine, Midazolam, Morphine, Propofol, Tiletamine-Zolazepam.

Pharmacologic sedation for diagnostic procedures, minor surgical interventions, and pre-anaesthetic premedi-cation. α2 agonists (dexmedetomidine, medetomidine), phenothiazines (acepromazine), and benzodiazepines (midazolam) form the backbone of veterinary protocols.

The overview above describes Sedation across species; the citations below are the ExoticRx dose rules scoped to sulcata tortoises — a reference list, not new species-specific clinical guidance.

Butorphanol(Torbugesic, Torbutrol)

Analgesic

Route	Dose	Frequency	Indication	Evidence	Source
IM	0.2 mg/kg	once	Minimal sedation / preanesthetic	Weak	Raphael BL. Chelonians. In: Fowler ME, Miller RE, eds. Zoo and Wild Animal Medicine, 5th ed., Saunders/Elsevier, Philadelphia, PA; 2003:48-58. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.236 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 4.5 (Chemical Restraint/Anesthetic Agents Used in Reptiles.a). 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; Fowler's Zoo and Wild Animal Medicine: Current Therapy — ISBN 9780323828529, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323828529

Full Butorphanol dosing in Sulcata Tortoises →Calculate for this sulcata tortoise →

Dexmedetomidine(Dexdomitor, Sileo)

Anesthetic

Route	Dose	Frequency	Indication	Evidence	Source
IM	0.02–0.05 mg/kg	single premedication dose, combined with ketamine	Premedication / sedation for immobilisation and general anaesthesia	Moderate	Turner RC, Gatson BJ, Hernandez JA, Alexander AB, Aitken-Palmer C, Vigani A, Heard DJ. Sedation and anesthesia of Galapagos (Chelonoidis nigra), Aldabra (Aldabrachelys gigantea), and African spurred tortoises (Centrochelys sulcata): a retrospective review (2009-2019). Animals (Basel). 2021;11(10):2920. doi:10.3390/ani11102920 https://europepmc.org/article/MED/34679940 — SOURCE EDITION: Zoo Animal and Wildlife Immobilization and Anesthesia — ISBN 9780813811833, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780813811833

Full Dexmedetomidine dosing in Sulcata Tortoises →Calculate for this sulcata tortoise →

Hydromorphone(Dilaudid)

Analgesic

Route	Dose	Frequency	Indication	Evidence	Source
IM	0.024–0.26 mg/kg	not stated in the cited source	Immobilization (sedation/anesthesia)	Weak	Marsh MK, et al. Sedation and Anesthesia of Galapagos (Chelonoidis nigra), Aldabra (Aldabrachelys gigantea), and African Spurred Tortoises (Centrochelys sulcata): A Retrospective Review (2009-2019). Animals. 2021;11(10):2920. doi:10.3390/ani11102920; PMCID: PMC8532946. Table 1. URL: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8532946/

Full Hydromorphone dosing in Sulcata Tortoises →Calculate for this sulcata tortoise →

Ketamine(Ketaset, Vetalar)

Anesthetic

Route	Dose	Frequency	Indication	Evidence	Source
IM	10–20 mg/kg	not stated in source	Sedation	Weak	Mitchell MA. Therapeutics. In: Mader DR, eds. Reptile Medicine and Surgery, 2nd ed., Saunders/Elsevier, St. Louis, MO; 2006:631-664. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.242 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 4.5 (Chemical Restraint/Anesthetic Agents Used in Reptiles.a). 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; Mader's Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery (Divers & Stahl) — ISBN 9780323482530, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323482530

Full Ketamine dosing in Sulcata Tortoises →Calculate for this sulcata tortoise →

Medetomidine

Uncategorized

Route	Dose	Frequency	Indication	Evidence	Source
IM	0.01–0.08 mg/kg	not stated in the cited source	Immobilization (sedation/anesthesia)	Weak	Marsh MK, et al. Sedation and Anesthesia of Galapagos (Chelonoidis nigra), Aldabra (Aldabrachelys gigantea), and African Spurred Tortoises (Centrochelys sulcata): A Retrospective Review (2009-2019). Animals. 2021;11(10):2920. doi:10.3390/ani11102920; PMCID: PMC8532946. Table 1. URL: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8532946/

Full Medetomidine dosing in Sulcata Tortoises →Calculate for this sulcata tortoise →

Midazolam(Versed)

Anesthetic

Route	Dose	Frequency	Indication	Evidence	Source
IM	0.06–0.5 mg/kg	not stated in the cited source	Immobilization (sedation/anesthesia)	Weak	Schumacher J, Mans C. Anesthesia. In: Mader DR, Divers SJ, eds. Current Therapy in Reptile Medicine and Surgery. St. Louis: WB Saunders; 2014: 134-153. — Verified against Mader's Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery, 3rd Ed, p.549 (2026-08-01). — SOURCE EDITION: Mader's Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery (Divers & Stahl) — ISBN 9780323482530, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323482530

Full Midazolam dosing in Sulcata Tortoises →Calculate for this sulcata tortoise →

Morphine

Analgesic

Route	Dose	Frequency	Indication	Evidence	Source
IM	0.05–0.88 mg/kg	not stated in the cited source	Immobilization (sedation/anesthesia)	Weak	Marsh MK, et al. Sedation and Anesthesia of Galapagos (Chelonoidis nigra), Aldabra (Aldabrachelys gigantea), and African Spurred Tortoises (Centrochelys sulcata): A Retrospective Review (2009-2019). Animals. 2021;11(10):2920. doi:10.3390/ani11102920; PMCID: PMC8532946. Table 1. URL: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8532946/

Full Morphine dosing in Sulcata Tortoises →Calculate for this sulcata tortoise →

Propofol(Rapinovet, PropoFlo)

Anesthetic

Route	Dose	Frequency	Indication	Evidence	Source
IV	3–5 mg/kg	not stated in source	Sedation (e.g. shell repair)	Weak	Fleming G. Clinical technique: chelonian shell repair. J Exot Pet Med. 2008;17:246-258. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.248 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 4.5 (Chemical Restraint/Anesthetic Agents Used in Reptiles.a). 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

Full Propofol dosing in Sulcata Tortoises →Calculate for this sulcata tortoise →

Tiletamine-Zolazepam(Telazol)

Anesthetic

Route	Dose	Frequency	Indication	Evidence	Source
IM	3.5–14 mg/kg	once	Sedation	Weak	Millichamp NJ. Surgical techniques in reptiles. In: Jacobson ER, Kollias GV Jr., eds. Exotic Animals; Churchill Livingstone, New York, NY; 1988:49-74. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.250 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 4.5 (Chemical Restraint/Anesthetic Agents Used in Reptiles.a). 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

Full Tiletamine-Zolazepam dosing in Sulcata Tortoises →Calculate for this sulcata tortoise →

All drugs cited for Sedation →All drugs for Sulcata Tortoises →

Other conditions in Sulcata Tortoises

Bacterial Infections Endoparasites Systemic Fungal Infections Pain Management

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.