Bird · Melopsittacus undulatus · typical adult weight 0.03–0.07 kg
Butorphanol is dosed at 2.5 mg/kg IM single dose, given with midazolam 1.25 mg/kg IM in budgerigars, per Escalante GC, Balko JA, Chinnadurai SK. Comparison of the Sedative Effects of Alfaxalone and Butorphanol-Midazolam Administered Intramuscularly in Budgerigars (Melopsittacus undulatus). J Avian Med Surg. 2018;32(4):279. doi:10.1647/2017-328 https://doi.org/10.1647/2017-328. Butorphanol is used in budgerigars for Sedation with midazolam for diagnostic handling. Routes documented in budgerigars: IM. A typical adult budgerigar weighs 0.03–0.07 kg. ExoticRx lists 1 cited dose rule for Butorphanol in budgerigars, drawn from published veterinary references. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
US trade names: Torbugesic, Torbutrol
| Route | Dose | Frequency | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IM | 2.5 mg/kg | single dose, given with midazolam 1.25 mg/kg IM | Sedation with midazolam for diagnostic handling | Moderate | Escalante GC, Balko JA, Chinnadurai SK. Comparison of the Sedative Effects of Alfaxalone and Butorphanol-Midazolam Administered Intramuscularly in Budgerigars (Melopsittacus undulatus). J Avian Med Surg. 2018;32(4):279. doi:10.1647/2017-328 https://doi.org/10.1647/2017-328 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | IM | BSAVA Manual of Psittacine Birds, 2nd edp.314 | 1 mg/kg i.m. once 0.02-0.04 mg/kg i.v. once | |
| 0.02–0.04 | IM | BSAVA Manual of Psittacine Birds, 2nd edp.314 | 1 mg/kg i.m. once 0.02-0.04 mg/kg i.v. once | |
| 0.3–4 | IM | BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, 10th ed — Part B (Exotic Pets)p.61 | 0.3-4 mg/kg i.m., i.v. q2-12h a,b |
| 3 | — |
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These ranges are per kg. Enter your budgerigar'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 budgerigars may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.
Butorphanol dose range in budgerigars, with cited source references: IM 2.5 mg/kg single dose, given with midazolam 1.25 mg/kg IM. Reference ranges from cited sources — verify against current literature before clinical use.
Documented routes for Butorphanol in budgerigars: IM.
Butorphanol is indicated in budgerigars for: Sedation with midazolam for diagnostic handling.
These are general warnings for Butorphanol across species; consult the budgerigar 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 budgerigars — 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.
| 3 mg/kg via the intranasal route combined with butorphanol. Use lower end doses for raptors. May |
| 0.5–4 | IM | Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th edTable 5.5 | 0.5-4 mg/kg IM, IV q1- 4h,321,485,683,764,82 |
| 1–6 | IM | Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th edTable 5.5 | 1-6 mg/kg IM |
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.