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. — Mined from Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.252 (2026-08-01, PENDING REVIEW) doi:10.1053/j.jepm.2013.11.011. 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. — Mined from Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.252 (2026-08-01, PENDING REVIEW) doi:10.1053/j.jepm.2013.11.011 |
| 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. — Mined from Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.252 (2026-08-01, PENDING REVIEW) |
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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.