Pocket Pet · Rattus norvegicus var. domestica · typical adult weight 0.25–0.70 kg
Buprenorphine is dosed at 0.4 mg/kg PO q24h in pet rats, per Nordén ES, Veras I, Yadav P, Løken K, Dishington H, Thorstensen C, Sjaastad I, Rasmussen H. Clinical efficacy of buprenorphine after oral dosing in rats undergoing major surgery. Lab Anim. 2024;58(1):34-43. doi:10.1177/00236772231178417 https://europepmc.org/article/MED/37669442. Buprenorphine is used in pet rats for Post-operative analgesia after major surgery, Pain (long-acting depot, e.g. Bup-SR), Pain (opioid, repeat dosing). Routes documented in pet rats: PO, SC. A typical adult pet rat weighs 0.25–0.70 kg. ExoticRx lists 3 cited dose rules for Buprenorphine in pet rats, drawn from published veterinary references. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
US trade names: Simbadol, Buprenex
| Route | Dose | Frequency | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PO | 0.4 mg/kg | q24h | Post-operative analgesia after major surgery | Strong | Nordén ES, Veras I, Yadav P, Løken K, Dishington H, Thorstensen C, Sjaastad I, Rasmussen H. Clinical efficacy of buprenorphine after oral dosing in rats undergoing major surgery. Lab Anim. 2024;58(1):34-43. doi:10.1177/00236772231178417 https://europepmc.org/article/MED/37669442 |
| SC | 0.6–1 mg/kg | q72h | Pain (long-acting depot, e.g. Bup-SR) | Strong | 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). — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 9.4 (Analgesic Agents Used in Rodents). 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 |
| SC | 0.05–0.1 mg/kg | q6-12h | Pain (opioid, repeat dosing) | Weak | Quesenberry, Orcutt, Mans & Carpenter, Ferrets, Rabbits, and Rodents: Clinical Medicine and Surgery, 4th ed., Table 9.4 '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') — LOCATOR CONVENTION 2026-08-07: 'p.552' is the PRINTED page number, confirmed by finding the drug named on it in the held copy. — SOURCE EDITION: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — ISBN 9780323833929, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323833929; Ferrets, Rabbits, and Rodents: Clinical Medicine and Surgery — ISBN 9780323484350, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323484350 |
Every held source for this drug and species, as printed. Where they differ, both are shown — the choice is yours, not ours.
| Dose (g/kg) | Route | Source | As printed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | PO | Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th edTable 9.4 | 1 mg/kg PO (mixed with 2 g/kg of Nutella)76 |
| Dose (mg/kg) | Route | Source | As printed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.05 | SC | Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th edTable 9.4 | 0.05 mg/kg q12h SC, IM |
| 0.1–0.25 | PO | Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th edTable 9.4 | 0.1-0.25 mg/kg PO q8- 12h |
| 0.1–0.4 |
Need the exact dose for your patient?
These ranges are per kg. Enter your pet rat's weight to get the precise dose and draw-up volume — unit and concentration math done for you.
Partial agonist at mu-opioid receptors with high receptor affinity. Provides analgesia with a ceiling effect on respiratory depression.
OTM (oral transmucosal) absorption effective in cats. Ceiling effect limits maximum analgesia. Difficult to reverse with naloxone due to high receptor affinity.
Species-specific contraindications and adverse-reaction reports for pet rats may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.
Buprenorphine dose ranges in pet rats, with cited source references: PO 0.4 mg/kg q24h; SC 0.6–1 mg/kg q72h; SC 0.05–0.1 mg/kg q6-12h. Reference ranges from cited sources — verify against current literature before clinical use.
Documented routes for Buprenorphine in pet rats: PO, SC.
Buprenorphine is indicated in pet rats for: Post-operative analgesia after major surgery, Pain (long-acting depot, e.g. Bup-SR), Pain (opioid, repeat dosing).
These are general warnings for Buprenorphine across species; consult the pet rat dosing table above for species-specific guidance. OTM (oral transmucosal) absorption effective in cats. Ceiling effect limits maximum analgesia. Difficult to reverse with naloxone due to high receptor affinity.
Why a species-specific page? Buprenorphine pharmacokinetics differ across species: dose ranges, intervals, and route preferences are not interchangeable. Cross-extrapolation from canine doses is unsafe in pet rats — 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.
| PO |
| Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th edTable 9.4 |
| 0.1-0.4 mg/kg PO,149 |
| 0.01–0.05 | SC | Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th edTable 9.4 | 0.01-0.05 mg/kg SC, IV q8-12h |
| 0.3–0.48 | SC | Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th edTable 9.4 | - 0.3-0.48 mg/kg SC 0.3-1.2 mg/kg SC q48- 72h |
| 0.3–1.2 | SC | Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th edTable 9.4 | - 0.3-0.48 mg/kg SC 0.3-1.2 mg/kg SC q48- 72h |
| 1.2 | SC | Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th edTable 9.4 | 1.2 mg/kg SC q72- 96h,156 |
| 1 | PO | Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th edTable 9.4 | 1 mg/kg PO (mixed with 2 g/kg of Nutella)76 |
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.