Pocket Pet · Meriones unguiculatus · typical adult weight 0.07–0.13 kg
Atropine is dosed at 0.04–0.4 mg/kg SC, IM not printed (single administration; Table 9.3 prea in gerbils, per 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. — Mined from Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.783 (2026-08-01, PENDING REVIEW). Atropine is used in gerbils for Anticholinergic / preanaesthetic. Routes documented in gerbils: SC, IM. A typical adult gerbil weighs 0.07–0.13 kg. ExoticRx lists 1 cited dose rule for Atropine in gerbils, drawn from published veterinary references. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
| Route | Dose | Frequency | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SC, IM | 0.04–0.4 mg/kg | not printed (single administration; Table 9.3 prea | Anticholinergic / preanaesthetic | Moderate | 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. — Mined from Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.783 (2026-08-01, PENDING REVIEW) |
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These ranges are per kg. Enter your gerbil's weight to get the precise dose and draw-up volume — unit and concentration math done for you.
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 gerbils may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.
Atropine dose range in gerbils, with cited source references: SC, IM 0.04–0.4 mg/kg not printed (single administration; Table 9.3 prea. Reference ranges from cited sources — verify against current literature before clinical use.
Documented routes for Atropine in gerbils: SC, IM.
Atropine is indicated in gerbils for: Anticholinergic / preanaesthetic.
These are general warnings for Atropine across species; consult the gerbil 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 gerbils — 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.