Pocket Pet · Oryctolagus cuniculus · typical adult weight 1.00–5.00 kg
Buprenorphine is dosed at 0.01–0.05 mg/kg IM q6-12h in rabbits, per 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. Buprenorphine is used in rabbits for Post-operative analgesia, Analgesia - mild to moderate pain only (partial mu agonist), Analgesia - mild to moderate pain only. Routes documented in rabbits: IM, IV, SC. A typical adult rabbit weighs 1.00–5.00 kg. ExoticRx lists 3 cited dose rules for Buprenorphine in rabbits, drawn from published veterinary references. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
US trade names: Simbadol, Buprenex
| Route | Dose | Frequency | Duration | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IM | 0.01–0.05 mg/kg | q6-12h | 24-72 hours post-operatively | Post-operative analgesia | Moderate |
| IV | 0.01–0.05 mg/kg | q6-12h | As needed | Analgesia - mild to moderate pain only (partial mu agonist) | Moderate | 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. — Carpenter 6th ed, Table 10.4 (Chemical Restraint/Sedative/Anesthetic/Analgesic Agents Used in Rabbits).Compilation only — we have not located an independent source that prints this figure. |
| SC | 0.01–0.05 mg/kg | q6-12h | As needed | Analgesia - mild to moderate pain only | Moderate | Morissey JM, Carpenter JW. Appendix: Formulary. In: Quesenberry KE, OrcuttCJ, Mans C, et al. Ferrets, Rabbits and Rodents: Clinical Medicine and Surgery, 4th ed., Elsevier, St. Louis, MO; 2021:620-630.; Chitty J. Formulary. In: Harcourt-Brown F, Chitty J, eds. BSAVA Manual of Rabbit Surgery, Dentistry and Imaging; BSAVA Press, Gloucestershire, UK; 2013:430-431. — Carpenter 6th ed, Table 10.4 (Chemical Restraint/Sedative/Anesthetic/Analgesic Agents Used in Rabbits).Compilation only — we have not located an independent source that prints this figure. |
Every held source for this drug and species, as printed. Where they differ, both are shown — the choice is yours, not ours.
The sources disagree for this combination. The ranges below do not overlap on a comparable route. This is not an error in one of them — published veterinary references differ, and reconciling them for a particular patient is a clinical judgement.
| Dose (mg/kg) | Route | Source | As printed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.03–0.06 | SC | BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, 10th ed — Part B (Exotic Pets)p.44 | 0.03-0.06 mg/kg s.c., i.m., i.v. q6-12h (doses <0.03 mg/kg have very limited analgesic effects but s |
| 0.03 | IM | BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, 10th ed — Part B (Exotic Pets)p.44 | 0.03-0.06 mg/kg s.c., i.m., i.v. q6-12h (doses <0.03 mg/kg have very limited analgesic effects but still have some sedative effects) b |
| 0.01–0.05 | SC | Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th edTable 10.4 | 0.01-0.05 mg/kg SC, IM, IV q6-12h,166 |
Typical range: 1–5 kg
If provided, volume will be calculated alongside dose.
Reference only. 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.
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 rabbits may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.
Buprenorphine dose ranges in rabbits, with cited source references: IM 0.01–0.05 mg/kg q6-12h; IV 0.01–0.05 mg/kg q6-12h; SC 0.01–0.05 mg/kg q6-12h. Reference ranges from cited sources — verify against current literature before clinical use.
Documented routes for Buprenorphine in rabbits: IM, IV, SC.
Cited course lengths for Buprenorphine in rabbits include: 24-72 hours post-operatively; As needed. Duration depends on the indication — match it to the specific dose rule in the table above.
Buprenorphine is indicated in rabbits for: Post-operative analgesia, Analgesia - mild to moderate pain only (partial mu agonist), Analgesia - mild to moderate pain only.
These are general warnings for Buprenorphine across species; consult the rabbit 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 rabbits — 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.
| 0.012 |
| — |
| Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th edTable 10.4 |
| 0.012 mg/kg |
| 0.02–0.1 | SC | Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th edTable 10.4 | 0.02-0.1 mg/kg SC, IM, IV |
| 0.03 | IM | Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th edTable 10.4 | 0.03 mg/kg IM q12h |
| 0.05 | SC | Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th edTable 10.4 | 0.05 mg/kg SC once |
| 0.06 | IV | Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th edTable 10.4 | 0.06 mg/kg IV q8h |
| 0.12 | SC | Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th edTable 10.4 | 0.12 mg/kg SC |
| 0.15 | SC | Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th edTable 10.4 | 0.15 mg/kg SC once |
| 0.24 | SC | Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th edTable 10.4 | 0.24 mg/kg SC q8h |
| 0.24 | IM | Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th edTable 10.4 | 0.24 mg/kg IM once |
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.