Reptile · Python regius · typical adult weight 1.00–2.00 kg
Atropine is dosed at 0.01–0.04 mg/kg IM not stated in source in ball pythons, per 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. — Verified against Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.236 (2026-08-01). — 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. Atropine is used in ball pythons for Bradycardia, pre-anesthetic. Routes documented in ball pythons: IM. A typical adult ball python weighs 1.00–2.00 kg. ExoticRx lists 1 cited dose rule for Atropine in ball pythons, drawn from published veterinary references. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
| Route | Dose | Frequency | Duration | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IM | 0.01–0.04 mg/kg | not stated in source | Single dose | Bradycardia, pre-anesthetic |
| 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. — Verified against Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.236 (2026-08-01). — 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 |
Every held source for this drug and species, as printed. Where they differ, both are shown — the choice is yours, not ours.
The sources disagree for this combination. The ranges below do not overlap on a comparable route. This is not an error in one of them — published veterinary references differ, and reconciling them for a particular patient is a clinical judgement.
| Dose (mg/kg) | Route | Source | As printed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.01–0.04 | IM | BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, 10th ed — Part B (Exotic Pets)p.44 | 0.01-0.04 mg/kg i.m., i.v.; May be ineffective in green iguanas a |
| 0.5 | IM | Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th edTable 4.5 | 0.5 mg/kg IM, IV, IT, IO |
| 0.01–0.04 | IM | Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th edTable 4.11 | 0.01-0.04 mg/kg IM, IV q8- 24h |
| 0.1–0.2 | IM |
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Competitive muscarinic receptor antagonist. Increases heart rate (vagolytic), reduces secretions, and mydriasis.
Tachycardia, ileus, urinary retention. Increases myocardial oxygen demand. Rabbits have high atropinase activity — may need higher/more frequent doses or use glycopyrrolate instead.
Species-specific contraindications and adverse-reaction reports for ball pythons may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.
Atropine dose range in ball pythons, with cited source references: IM 0.01–0.04 mg/kg not stated in source. Reference ranges from cited sources — verify against current literature before clinical use.
Documented routes for Atropine in ball pythons: IM.
Cited course lengths for Atropine in ball pythons include: Single dose. Duration depends on the indication — match it to the specific dose rule in the table above.
Atropine is indicated in ball pythons for: Bradycardia, pre-anesthetic.
These are general warnings for Atropine across species; consult the ball python dosing table above for species-specific guidance. Tachycardia, ileus, urinary retention. Increases myocardial oxygen demand. Rabbits have high atropinase activity — may need higher/more frequent doses or use glycopyrrolate instead.
Why a species-specific page? Atropine pharmacokinetics differ across species: dose ranges, intervals, and route preferences are not interchangeable. Cross-extrapolation from canine doses is unsafe in ball pythons — the rules above are the citations specific to this species, not generic recommendations.
Sourced from published veterinary references; awaiting credentialed clinical reviewer. See our editorial process. Reference only — not veterinary advice.
| Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th edTable 4.11 |
| 0.1-0.2 mg/kg IM prn 0.2 mg/kg SC, IM Mo |
| 0.2 | SC | Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th edTable 4.11 | 0.1-0.2 mg/kg IM prn 0.2 mg/kg SC, IM Mo |
| 0.01–0.04 | SC | Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th edTable 4.5 | 0.01-0.04 mg/kg SC, IM, IV, ICe |
| 0.01–0.04 | INTRACARDIAC | Mader's Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery, 3rd edTable 127.4 | 0.01-0.04 mg/kg SC, IM,33 IV,89 ICe295 Most species/preanesthetic; bradycardia; rarely indicated; generally use only in profound or prolonged bradycardia;295 may help prevent intra |
| 0.5 | IM | Mader's Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery, 3rd edTable 127.4 | 0.5 mg/kg IM, IV, IT, IO232 Most species/bradycardia, decrease secretions, CPR |
| 2 | IM | Mader's Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery, 3rd edTable 127.8 | 01-0.04 mg/kg IM, IV q8-24h226 Most st 1-0.2 mg/kg IM prn99 Most 2 mg/kg SC, IM282 Most species/dries up excess mucous secretions with infectious omatitis species/organophosphate t |
Figures are transcribed from the cited page or table of each held edition and are shown for reference only. They are not dose recommendations, they do not feed the calculator, and none has been reviewed by a veterinarian.