Livestock · Bos taurus · typical adult weight 250.00–900.00 kg
Butorphanol is dosed at 0.02–0.04 mg/kg IV q4h in cattle, per Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th ed (2023, held copy; the original seed cited the 9th, which was never consulted), Butorphanol, p.189, CATTLE / Analgesic (extra-label) — 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. 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.
US trade names: Torbugesic, Torbutrol
| Route | Dose | Frequency | Duration | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IV | 0.02–0.04 mg/kg | q4h | — | Analgesia | Anecdotal | Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th ed (2023, held copy; the original seed cited the 9th, which was never consulted), Butorphanol, p.189, CATTLE / Analgesic (extra-label) — 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 |
| IV | 0.02–0.04 mg/kg | q4h | As needed | Visceral pain, sedation adjunct | Anecdotal | Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th ed (2023, held copy; the original seed cited the 9th, which was never consulted), Butorphanol, p.189, CATTLE / Analgesic (extra-label) — 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 |
Every held source for this drug and species, as printed. Where they differ, both are shown — the choice is yours, not ours.
| Dose (mg/kg) | Route | Source | As printed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.01–0.02 | IV | Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.122 | • In combination with xylazine: 0.01-0.02 mg/kg IV. |
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.
Need the exact dose for your patient?
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.
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 cattle may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.
Butorphanol dose ranges in cattle, with cited source references: IV 0.02–0.04 mg/kg q4h; IV 0.02–0.04 mg/kg q4h. Reference ranges from cited sources — verify against current literature before clinical use.
Documented routes for Butorphanol in cattle: IV.
Cited course lengths for Butorphanol in cattle include: As needed. Duration depends on the indication — match it to the specific dose rule in the table above.
Butorphanol is indicated in cattle for: Analgesia, Visceral pain, sedation adjunct.
These are general warnings for Butorphanol across species; consult the cattle 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 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.