Sourced from published veterinary references. Awaiting credentialed clinical reviewer — our editorial process.
Buprenorphine is dosed at 0.02–0.1 mg/kg IM q24-48h in ball pythons, per Verified against BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, 10th Ed, Part B: Exotic Pets, p.58 (2026-08-01).. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
Partial agonist at mu-opioid receptors with high receptor affinity. Provides analgesia with a ceiling effect on respiratory depression.
Side effects & warnings
OTM (oral transmucosal) absorption effective in cats. Ceiling effect limits maximum analgesia. Difficult to reverse with naloxone due to high receptor affinity.
Species with Buprenorphine dosing data (30 dose rules)
Each ExoticRx dose rule is graded by the strength of its primary evidence — see the editorial process.
Backed by 23 published sources
· Adamcak A, Otten B. Rodent therapeutics. Vet Clin North Am Exot Anim Pract. 2000;3(1):221-237, viii. — Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.181 (2026-08-01).
· Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed
· Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed. | Open-access corroboration 2026-07-20: PMID:27931318 — guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus), 0.05 mg/kg SC (subcutaneous) for the administered study dose; the general "suggested dosage range" sentence does not specify a route (peer_reviewed). [source route SC; interchangeable with IM for this drug]
· Cary CD, Lukovsky-Akhsanov NL, Gallardo-Romero NF, et al. Pharmacokinetic Profiles of Meloxicam and Sustained-release Buprenorphine in Prairie Dogs (Cynomys ludovicianus). J Am Assoc Lab Anim Sci. 2017 Mar;56(2):160-165. ; PMCID: . URL:
Constant rate infusion (CRI)
Buprenorphine CRI dose rule from the ExoticRx formulary. Verify against current literature before clinical use; CRI rates differ from bolus dosing and route, dilution, and monitoring matter. Sign in for the complete per-species CRI protocol set.
Species
Route
Rate
Indication
Evidence
Source
Dog (Domestic)
IV
0.002–0.004 mg/kgper hour (CRI); IV load 0.005-0.01 mg/kg first
Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed (2023), PDF p.179 (printed p.152), DOGS - Analgesia b) Constant rate infusion (CRI)
Dog (Domestic)IV
0.002–0.004 mg/kgper hour (CRI); IV load 0.005-0.01 mg/kg first
Intraoperative CRI analgesia
ModeratePlumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed (2023), PDF p.179 (printed p.152), DOGS - Analgesia b) Constant rate infusion (CRI)
Sample dosing (2 of 30 cited rules)
A dog/cat sample is shown here. Cited dosing for all 15 species — reptiles, birds, pocket pets, livestock, and equine — is free on the per-species pages above. Pro adds the weight-based calculator for every species.
Upgrade to Pro or Student to unlock the full dose ranges and frequency for every species. The drug's mechanism, warnings, indications, and cited sources are free to read.
· Chi[tt]y J. Formulary. In: Harcourt-Brown F, Chi[tt]y J, eds. BSAVA Manual of Rabbit Surgery, Dentistry and Imaging; BSAVA Press, Gloucestershire, UK; 2013:430-431. |; Morissey JM, Carpenter JW. Appendix: Formulary. In: Quesenberry KE, Orcu[tt] C, Mans C, et al. Ferrets, Rabbits and Rodents: Clinical Medicine and Surgery, 4th ed., Elsevier, St. Louis, MO; 2021:620-630. — Verified against Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.856 (2026-08-01).
· Chum HH, Jampachairsri K, Mckeon GP, et al. Antinociceptive effects of sustained-release buprenorphine in a model of incisional pain in rats (Rattus norvegicus). J Am Assoc Lab Anim Sci. 2014;53:193-197. — Verified against Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.790 (2026-08-01).
· Fehr M, Sassenburg L, Zwart P. Krankheiten der Heimtiere, 8th ed., Schluetersche Verlagsgesellschaft, Hannover, Germany; 2015.; Flecknell PA. Analgesia and post-operative care. Laboratory Animal Anaesthesia; 2016:141-192. doi:10.1016/b978-0-12-800036-6.00004-1 — Verified against Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.789 (2026-08-01).
· Heard DJ. Principles and techniques of anesthesia and analgesia for exotic practice. Vet Clin North Am Small Anim Pract. 1993;23:1301-1327. doi:10.1016/s0195-5616(93)50157-2; Ko JC, Marini RP. Anesthesia. In: Fox JG, Marini RP, eds. Biology and Diseases of the Ferret, 3rd ed., Wiley Blackwell, Ames, IA; 2014:259-283. — Verified against Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.943 (2026-08-01).
· Paul-Murphy JR, Brunson DB, Miletic V. Analgesic effects of butorphanol and buprenorphine in conscious African grey parrots. Am J Vet Res. 1999;60:1218-1221. doi:10.2460/ajvr.1999.60.10.1218; Paul-Murphy J, Hess JC, Fialkowski JP. Pharmacokinetic properties of a single intramuscular dose of buprenorphine in African grey parrots (Psittacus erithacus erithacus). J Avian Med Surg. 2004;18:224-228. doi:10.1647/2001-039 — Verified against Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.448 (2026-08-01).
· Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed (2023), PDF p.179 (printed p.152), DOGS - Analgesia b) Constant rate infusion (CRI)
· Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 9th Ed
· Quesenberry, Orcutt, Mans & Carpenter, Ferrets, Rabbits, and Rodents: Clinical Medicine and Surgery, 4th ed., Table 37.6 'Analgesic Drug Dosages Recommended in Small Mammals', p.552 - Rat: buprenorphine 0.05-0.5 SC, IM q6h (table footnote: 'Doses are in milligram per kilogram unless specified otherwise')