Reptile · Pogona vitticeps · typical adult weight 0.38–0.51 kg
Butorphanol is dosed at 0.5–2 mg/kg IM q24h in bearded dragons, per Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, Table 4.6, Butorphanol, p.236 (ref 33 = Bennett RA, Divers SJ, Schumacher J, et al. Roundtable: anesthesia. Bull Assoc Rept Amph Vet. 1999;9:20-27; ref 63 = 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; 2019:1191-1211). Frequency and the bearded-dragon-specific figure from BSAVA Small Animal Formulary 10th ed, Part B: Exotic Pets, Butorphanol, printed p.47 (PDF p.61; ref c = Greenacre CB, Takle G, Schumacher JP, et al. Comparative anti-nociception of morphine, butorphanol and buprenorphine versus saline in the green iguana using electrostimulation. J Herpetol Med Surg. 2006;16:88-92).. Butorphanol is used in bearded dragons for Pain management. Routes documented in bearded dragons: IM, SC. A typical adult bearded dragon weighs 0.38–0.51 kg. ExoticRx lists 2 cited dose rules for Butorphanol in bearded dragons, drawn from published veterinary references. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
US trade names: Torbugesic, Torbutrol
| Route | Dose | Frequency | Duration | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IM | 0.5–2 mg/kg | q24h | As needed | Pain management | Extrapolated | Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, Table 4.6, Butorphanol, p.236 (ref 33 = Bennett RA, Divers SJ, Schumacher J, et al. Roundtable: anesthesia. Bull Assoc Rept Amph Vet. 1999;9:20-27; ref 63 = 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; 2019:1191-1211). Frequency and the bearded-dragon-specific figure from BSAVA Small Animal Formulary 10th ed, Part B: Exotic Pets, Butorphanol, printed p.47 (PDF p.61; ref c = Greenacre CB, Takle G, Schumacher JP, et al. Comparative anti-nociception of morphine, butorphanol and buprenorphine versus saline in the green iguana using electrostimulation. J Herpetol Med Surg. 2006;16:88-92). |
| SC | 0.4–2 mg/kg | q12-24h | As needed | Pain management | Extrapolated | Sladky KK, Kinney ME, Johnson SM. J Am Vet Med Assoc 2008;233(2):267-273. doi:10.2460/javma.233.2.267 PMID:18627230 — bearded dragon (Pogona vitticeps), butorphanol 2 or 20 mg/kg SC: did NOT alter thermal withdrawal latency at 2-24 h, while morphine did. Documents this dose in this species; does not demonstrate analgesia. |
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These ranges are per kg. Enter your bearded dragon's weight to get the precise dose and draw-up volume — unit and concentration math done for you.
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.
Species-specific contraindications and adverse-reaction reports for bearded dragons may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.
Butorphanol dose ranges in bearded dragons, with cited source references: IM 0.5–2 mg/kg q24h; SC 0.4–2 mg/kg q12-24h. Reference ranges from cited sources — verify against current literature before clinical use.
Documented routes for Butorphanol in bearded dragons: IM, SC.
Cited course lengths for Butorphanol in bearded dragons include: As needed. Duration depends on the indication — match it to the specific dose rule in the table above.
Butorphanol is indicated in bearded dragons for: Pain management.
These are general warnings for Butorphanol across species; consult the bearded dragon dosing table above for species-specific guidance. Short duration of action (1-2 hours). Better for visceral than somatic pain. Ceiling effect on analgesia. May cause sedation and mild respiratory depression.
Why a species-specific page? Butorphanol pharmacokinetics differ across species: dose ranges, intervals, and route preferences are not interchangeable. Cross-extrapolation from canine doses is unsafe in bearded dragons — 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.