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Butorphanol for Cattle

Livestock · Bos taurus · typical adult weight 250.00–900.00 kg

Butorphanol is used in cattle for Analgesia, Visceral pain, sedation adjunct. Routes documented in cattle: IV. A typical adult cattle weighs 250.00–900.00 kg. ExoticRx lists 2 cited dose rules for Butorphanol in cattle, drawn from published veterinary references. Verify against current literature before clinical use.

Trade names: Torbugesic, Torbutrol

Dose ranges

RouteDoseFrequencyDurationIndicationEvidenceSource
IV0.02–0.05 mg/kgq4hAnalgesiaModeratePlumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 9th Ed
IV0.02–0.05 mg/kgq4-6hAs neededVisceral pain, sedation adjunctModeratePlumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook

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These ranges are per kg. Enter your cattle's weight to get the precise dose and draw-up volume — unit and concentration math done for you.

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Mechanism of action

Kappa-opioid receptor agonist and mu-opioid receptor antagonist. Provides visceral analgesia and sedation.

Side effects & warnings

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 cattle may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.

Other Analgesic drugs with cattle dosing

Butorphanol dosing in other species

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 cattle — 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.