Reptile · Trachemys scripta elegans · typical adult weight 0.20–2.20 kg
Bupivacaine is dosed at 1 mg/kg Intrathecal once in red-eared sliders, per Mans C. Clinical technique: intrathecal drug administration in turtles and tortoises. J Exot Pet Med. 2014;23:67-70. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.252 doi:10.1053/j.jepm.2013.11.011 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 4.6 (Analgesic (Including Antiinflammatory) Agents Used in Reptiles). 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. Bupivacaine is used in red-eared sliders for Regional analgesia/anesthesia of the caudal body, Local anesthesia. Routes documented in red-eared sliders: Intrathecal, Local infiltration. A typical adult red-eared slider weighs 0.20–2.20 kg. ExoticRx lists 2 cited dose rules for Bupivacaine in red-eared sliders, drawn from published veterinary references. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
US trade names: Marcaine, Nocita
| Route | Dose | Frequency | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Intrathecal | 1 mg/kg | once | Regional analgesia/anesthesia of the caudal body | Moderate | Mans C. Clinical technique: intrathecal drug administration in turtles and tortoises. J Exot Pet Med. 2014;23:67-70. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.252 doi:10.1053/j.jepm.2013.11.011 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 4.6 (Analgesic (Including Antiinflammatory) Agents Used in Reptiles). 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 |
| Local infiltration | 1–2 mg/kg | q4-12h prn | Local anesthesia | Weak | 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.252 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 4.6 (Analgesic (Including Antiinflammatory) Agents Usedin Reptiles). Located 2026-08-05: the only table covering this species in which the drug's own row prints this dose. The copy held is an ebook conversion with no printed page numbers, so the table 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 |
Every held source for this drug and species, as printed. Where they differ, both are shown — the choice is yours, not ours.
| Dose (mg/kg) | Route | Source | As printed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–2 | — | BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, 10th ed — Part B (Exotic Pets)p.57 | 1-2 mg/kg local infusion or used in combination with lidocaine for intrathecal anaesthesia in chelo |
| 1–2 | — | Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th edTable 4.6 | 1-2 mg/kg local q4-12h prn |
| 1–2 | — | Mader's Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery, 3rd edTable 127.6 | 1-2 mg/kg local q4-12h prn298 Most species/local anesthesia; 4 mg/kg maximum dose |
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.
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These ranges are per kg. Enter your red-eared slider's weight to get the precise dose and draw-up volume — unit and concentration math done for you.
Long-acting amide local anesthetic blocking voltage-gated sodium channels. Duration 4-8 hours (standard) or 72 hours (Nocita liposomal).
Nocita (liposomal bupivacaine) FDA-approved for post-op pain in dogs/cats. Cardiotoxic if inadvertently given IV. Do not use with epinephrine on digits/tail.
Species-specific contraindications and adverse-reaction reports for red-eared sliders may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.
Bupivacaine dose ranges in red-eared sliders, with cited source references: Intrathecal 1 mg/kg once; Local infiltration 1–2 mg/kg q4-12h prn. Reference ranges from cited sources — verify against current literature before clinical use.
Documented routes for Bupivacaine in red-eared sliders: Intrathecal, Local infiltration.
Bupivacaine is indicated in red-eared sliders for: Regional analgesia/anesthesia of the caudal body, Local anesthesia.
These are general warnings for Bupivacaine across species; consult the red-eared slider dosing table above for species-specific guidance. Nocita (liposomal bupivacaine) FDA-approved for post-op pain in dogs/cats. Cardiotoxic if inadvertently given IV. Do not use with epinephrine on digits/tail.
Why a species-specific page? Bupivacaine pharmacokinetics differ across species: dose ranges, intervals, and route preferences are not interchangeable. Cross-extrapolation from canine doses is unsafe in red-eared sliders — 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.