Atropine for Sugar Gliders
Pocket Pet · Petaurus breviceps · typical adult weight 0.08–0.16 kg
Atropine is dosed at 0.01–0.04 mg/kg IM not specified in sugar gliders, per MSD/Merck Veterinary Manual. Drugs Commonly Used to Treat Sugar Gliders (dosage table). https://www.msdvetmanual.com/multimedia/table/drugs-commonly-used-to-treat-sugar-gliders URL: https://www.msdvetmanual.com/multimedia/table/drugs-commonly-used-to-treat-sugar-gliders. Atropine is used in sugar gliders for To lessen intraoperative secretions, prevent and correct bradycardia. Routes documented in sugar gliders: IM. A typical adult sugar glider weighs 0.08–0.16 kg. ExoticRx lists 1 cited dose rule for Atropine in sugar gliders, drawn from published veterinary references. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
Dose ranges
| Route | Dose | Frequency | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IM | 0.01–0.04 mg/kg | not specified | To lessen intraoperative secretions, prevent and correct bradycardia | Weak | MSD/Merck Veterinary Manual. Drugs Commonly Used to Treat Sugar Gliders (dosage table). https://www.msdvetmanual.com/multimedia/table/drugs-commonly-used-to-treat-sugar-gliders URL: https://www.msdvetmanual.com/multimedia/table/drugs-commonly-used-to-treat-sugar-gliders |
Need the exact dose for your patient?
These ranges are per kg. Enter your sugar glider's weight to get the precise dose and draw-up volume — unit and concentration math done for you.
Mechanism of action
Competitive muscarinic receptor antagonist. Increases heart rate (vagolytic), reduces secretions, and mydriasis.
Side effects & warnings
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 sugar gliders may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.
Frequently asked questions
What is the dose of Atropine for Sugar Gliders?
Atropine dose range in sugar gliders, with cited source references: IM 0.01–0.04 mg/kg not specified.
How is Atropine administered in Sugar Gliders?
Documented routes for Atropine in sugar gliders: IM.
What conditions does Atropine treat in Sugar Gliders?
Atropine is indicated in sugar gliders for: To lessen intraoperative secretions, prevent and correct bradycardia.
What are the side effects of Atropine in Sugar Gliders?
These are general warnings for Atropine across species; consult the sugar glider 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.
Other Emergency drugs with sugar glider dosing
Atropine dosing in other species
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 sugar gliders — 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.