ExoticRx · exoticrx.com/drugs/butorphanol
US brand names:Torbugesic, Torbutrol
Butorphanol is dosed at 0.5–2 mg/kg IM once, preanesthetic/sedation in ball pythons, per Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th ed., Table 4.5 (Chemical restraint/anesthetic agents used in reptiles), p.236 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 4.5 (Chemical Restraint/Anesthetic Agents Used in Reptiles.a). 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. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
Kappa-opioid receptor agonist and mu-opioid receptor antagonist. Provides visceral analgesia and sedation.
Short duration of action (1-2 hours). Better for visceral than somatic pain. Ceiling effect on analgesia. May cause sedation and mild respiratory depression.
Controlled substance in the US
Controlled-drug status and schedules differ by country — check your local scheduling rules.
Each ExoticRx dose rule is graded by the strength of its primary evidence — see the editorial process.
A dog/cat sample is shown here. Cited dosing for all 37 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.
| Species | Route | Dose | Frequency | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cat (Domestic) | IV | 0.1–0.4 mg/kg | q2-4h | Strong | Lascelles BDX, Robertson SA. Use of thermal threshold response to evaluate the antinociceptive effects of butorphanol in cats. Am J Vet Res. 2004;65(8):1085-1089. / 45. Ansah OB, Vainio O, Hellsten C, Raekallio M. Postoperative Pain Control in Cats: Clinical Trials with Medetomidine and Butorphanol. Vet Surg. 2002;31(2):99-103. doi:10.2460/ajvr.2004.65.1085 — Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.187 (2026-08-01). — Plumb's 10th ed (held) printed p.157, Butorphanol monograph spanning p.157-163; page located 2026-08-05 from the book's own running heads, verified to name the drug in its body text. — SOURCE EDITION: Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook — ISBN 9781394172207, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9781394172207 |
| Dog (Domestic) | IV | 0.1–0.4 mg/kg | q2-4h |
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View PlansSource citations and evidence levels available on the live page. Reference only — verify against current literature before clinical use.
Species references:All African Grey Parrot drugsAll African Pygmy Hedgehog drugsAll Amazon Parrot drugsAll Ball Python drugsAll Bearded Dragon drugsAll Blue-and-Gold Macaw drugsAll Blue-tongue Skink drugsAll Budgerigar drugsAll Cat (Domestic) drugsAll Cattle (Beef/Dairy) drugsAll Chicken (Poultry) drugsAll Chinchilla drugsAll Corn Snake drugsAll Crested Gecko drugsAll Degu drugsAll Dog (Domestic) drugsAll Dwarf Hamster drugsAll Eastern Box Turtle drugsAll Ferret drugsAll Gerbil drugsAll Green Iguana drugsAll Guinea Pig drugsAll Horse (Equine) drugsAll Koi drugsAll Leopard Gecko drugsAll Lovebird drugsAll Mouse drugsAll Pet Rat drugsAll Quaker/Monk Parakeet drugsAll Rabbit (Domestic) drugsAll Russian Tortoise drugsAll Sugar Glider drugsAll Sulcata Tortoise drugsAll Syrian Hamster drugsAll Umbrella Cockatoo drugsAll Veiled Chameleon drugsAll Zebra Finch drugs
| Sawyer DC, Rech RH, Durham RA, Adams T, Richter MA, Striler EL. Dose response to butorphanol administered subcutaneously to increase visceral nociceptive threshold in dogs. Am J Vet Res. 1991;52(11):1826-1830. / 27. Houghton KJ, Rech RH, Sawyer DC, et al. Dose-Response of Intravenous Butorphanol to Increase Visceral Nociceptive Threshold in Dogs. P Soc Exp Biol Med. 1991;197(3):290-296. doi:10.2460/ajvr.1991.52.11.1826 — Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.187 (2026-08-01). — Plumb's 10th ed (held) printed p.157, Butorphanol monograph spanning p.157-163; page located 2026-08-05 from the book's own running heads, verified to name the drug in its body text. — SOURCE EDITION: Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook — ISBN 9781394172207, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9781394172207 |