Sourced from published veterinary references. Awaiting credentialed clinical reviewer — our editorial process.
Atropine is dosed at 0.05–0.1 mg/kg IM once in rabbits, per Fitzgerald BC, Dias S, Martorell J. Cardiovascular drugs in avian, small animal and reptile medicine. Vet Clin North Am Exot Anim Pract: Therapeutics. 2018;21:399-442. — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 10.8 (Cardiovascular Agents Used in Rabbits). Verify against current literature before clinical use.
Tachycardia, ileus, urinary retention. Increases myocardial oxygen demand. Rabbits have high atropinase activity — may need higher/more frequent doses or use glycopyrrolate instead.
Each ExoticRx dose rule is graded by the strength of its primary evidence — see the editorial process.
Sample dosing (2 of 46 cited rules)
A dog/cat sample is shown here. Cited dosing for all 35 species — reptiles, birds, pocket pets, livestock, and equine — is free on the per-species pages above. Pro adds the weight-based calculator for every species.
Plumb's 10th ed printed p.114, Atropine monograph spanning p.112-115.Compilation only — we have not located an independent source that prints this figure.
Plumb's 10th ed printed p.114, Atropine monograph spanning p.112-115.Compilation only — we have not located an independent source that prints this figure.
· 104. Boothe DM. Drugs affecting the respiratory system. Vet Clin North Am Exot Anim Pract. 2000;3:371-394. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.468 doi:10.1002/9780470698891.ch8 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 5.9 (Agents Used in the Treatment of Toxicologic Conditions of Birds).
· 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.783 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 9.3 (Chemical Restraint/Anesthetic Agents Used in Rodents).
· 226. Messonnier S. Formulary for exotic pets. Vet Forum. 1996;Aug:46-49. — Source: Mader's Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery, 3rd Ed, p.1419
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25. Heatley J. Hedgehogs. In: Mitchell MA, Tully TN Jr., eds. Manual of Exotic Pet Practice; Saunders/Elsevier, St. Louis, MO; 2009:433-455. | 30. Jepson L. Hedgehogs. In: Jepson L, eds. Exotic Animal Medicine: A Quick Reference Guide, 2nd ed., Elsevier, St. Louis, MO; 2016:198-230. | 34. Johnson D. African pygmy hedgehogs. In: Meredith A, Johnson-Delaney C, eds. BSAVA Manual of Exotic Pets, 5th ed., British Small Animal Veterinary Association, Gloucester, UK; 2010:139-147. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.739 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 8.4 (Chemical Restraint/Anesthetic Agents Used in Hedgehogs).
· 25. Heatley J. Hedgehogs. In: Mitchell MA, Tully TN Jr., eds. Manual of Exotic Pet Practice; Saunders/Elsevier, St. Louis, MO; 2009:433-455. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.744 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 8.7 (Miscellaneous Agents Used in Hedgehogs).
· 251. Dumonceaux G, Harrison GJ. Toxins. In: Ritchie BW, Harrison GJ, Harrison LR, eds. Avian Medicine: Principles and Application; Wingers Publishing, Delray Beach, FL; 1994:1030-1052. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.468 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 5.9 (Agents Used in the Treatment of Toxicologic Conditions of Birds).
· 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.796 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 9.6 (Emergency Drugs Used in Rodents).
· 63. Carpenter JW, Klaphake E, Gibbons PM, et al. Reptile formulary. In: Divers SJ, Stahl SJ, eds. Mader's Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery, 3rd ed., Elsevier, St. Louis, MO; 2019:1191-1211. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.236
· Adamcak A, Otten B. Rodent therapeutics. Vet Clin North Am Exot Anim Pract. 2000;3:221-237. / 83. Jepson L. Exotic Animal Medicine: A Quick Reference Guide, WB Saunders, New York, NY; 2009. — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 9.5 (Cardiovascular Agents Used in Rodents).
· Carpenter JW, Klaphake E, Gibbons PM, et al. Reptile formulary. In: Divers SJ, Stahl SJ, eds. Mader's Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery, 3rd ed., Elsevier, St. Louis, MO; 2019:1191-1211.
· Carpenter JW, Klaphake E, Gibbons PM, et al. Reptile formulary. In: Divers SJ, Stahl SJ, eds. Mader's Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery, 3rd ed., Elsevier, St. Louis, MO; 2019:1191-1211. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.236
· Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th ed, Table 5.5. NOTE: the served figure was matched against the table as a whole, not against this drug's own row, so confirm the number on the page before relying on it. — CORROBORATED 2026-08-06 by Samour J (ed), Avian Medicine, 3rd ed, Elsevier 2016 (ISBN 978-0-7234-3832-8), Table 13-11: Atropine, Most species, 0.01-0.02 mg/kg (IM); the book grades this row "EU" (empirical use). A second text, independent of the source already cited; it corroborates the figure and does not by itself establish that the dose is correct. (Samour's figure is from Table 13-11, a cardiology table, and corresponds to the BRADYCARDIA part of this rule's indication; it does not cover the organophosphate-toxicity part, for which higher doses are published.)
· 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. doi:10.1055/b-004-129947 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 9.6 (Emergency Drugs Used in Rodents).
· Ewringmann A, Gloeckner B. Leitsymptome bei Meerschweinchen, Chinchilla und Degu, Enke, Stuttgart, Germany; 2012. | Ewringmann A, Gloeckner B. Leitsymptome bei Hamster, Ratte, Maus und Rennmaus, Enke, Stuttgart, Germany; 2014. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.796 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 9.6 (Emergency Drugs Used in Rodents).
· Fitzgerald BC, Dias S, Martorell J. Cardiovascular drugs in avian, small animal and reptile medicine. Vet Clin North Am Exot Anim Pract: Therapeutics. 2018;21:399-442. doi:10.1016/j.cvex.2018.01.015 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 10.8 (Cardiovascular Agents Used in Rabbits).
· Fletcher DJ, Boller M, Brainard BM, et al. RECOVER evidence and knowledge gap analysis on veterinary CPR. Part 7: Clinical guidelines. J Vet Emerg Crit Care. 2012;22. doi:10.1111/j.1476-4431.2012.00751.x — Plumb's 10th ed printed p.114, Atropine monograph spanning p.112-115.
· Hess L. Sugar gliders. In: Aiello SE, eds. Merck Veterinary Manual; Merck & Co., Kenilworth, NJ; 2016:2035-2043. / 10. Hedley J. BSAVA Small Animal Formulary. Part B: Exotic Pets, 10th ed., British Small Animal Veterinary Association. / 30. 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.
· Mogg T. Equine cardiac disease: clinical pharmacology and therapeutics. Vet Clin North Am Equine Pract. 1999;15:523-534. doi:10.1016/s0749-0739(17)30130-x — Plumb's 10th ed printed p.112, Atropine monograph spanning p.112-115.
· Morissey JM, Carpenter JW. Appendix: 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. / 241. van Zeeland YR.A, Schoemaker NJ. Diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular disease in small mammals.
· 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.
· 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.783 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 9.3 (Chemical Restraint/Anesthetic Agents Used in Rodents).
· Papich, Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th Ed (2016), printed p.62, Atropine Sulfate - Small Animal Dosage, Cats
· Plumb's 10th ed printed p.112, Atropine monograph spanning p.112-115.
· Plumb's 10th ed printed p.114, Atropine monograph spanning p.112-115.
· Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th ed (2023) — Plumb's 10th ed printed p.112, Atropine monograph spanning p.112-115.
· Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th ed (2023) — Plumb's 10th ed printed p.114, Atropine monograph spanning p.112-115.
· Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th ed (2023), Atropine, printed p.114. Page NOTE: "FDA approval has not been required for atropine products in animals. All dosages should be considered extra-label."
· Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th ed (2023), p.114, Atropine, Dosages, DOGS/CATS, 'Preanesthetic adjuvant' — Plumb's 10th ed printed p.114, Atropine monograph.
· Ramsey I, ed. BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, 10th ed. Part B: Exotic Pets. Gloucester: British Small Animal Veterinary Association; 2023. p.30.