Pocket Pet · Chinchilla lanigera · typical adult weight 0.40–0.80 kg
Butorphanol is dosed at 0.5 mg/kg IM once, combined with alfaxalone 5 mg/kg IM in chinchillas, per Parkinson L, Mans C. Anesthetic and Postanesthetic Effects of Alfaxalone-Butorphanol Compared with Dexmedetomidine-Ketamine in Chinchillas (Chinchilla lanigera). J Am Assoc Lab Anim Sci. 2017;56(3):290-295. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5438922/. Butorphanol is used in chinchillas for Sedation/light-to-surgical anaesthesia in combination with alfaxalone. Routes documented in chinchillas: IM. A typical adult chinchilla weighs 0.40–0.80 kg. ExoticRx lists 1 cited dose rule for Butorphanol in chinchillas, drawn from published veterinary references. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
US trade names: Torbugesic, Torbutrol
| Route | Dose | Frequency | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IM | 0.5 mg/kg | once, combined with alfaxalone 5 mg/kg IM | Sedation/light-to-surgical anaesthesia in combination with alfaxalone | Moderate | Parkinson L, Mans C. Anesthetic and Postanesthetic Effects of Alfaxalone-Butorphanol Compared with Dexmedetomidine-Ketamine in Chinchillas (Chinchilla lanigera). J Am Assoc Lab Anim Sci. 2017;56(3):290-295. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5438922/ |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.5–2 | SC | BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, 10th ed — Part B (Exotic Pets)p.61 | 0.5-2 mg/kg s.c. q4h; Gerbils, Hamsters, Rats, Mice: 1-5 mg/kg s.c. q4h |
| 1–5 | SC | BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, 10th ed — Part B (Exotic Pets)p.61 | 0.5-2 mg/kg s.c. q4h; Gerbils, Hamsters, Rats, Mice: 1-5 mg/kg s.c. q4h |
| 0.2–2 | — | Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th edTable 9.4 | 0.2-2 mg/kg q2-4h,130 |
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.
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These ranges are per kg. Enter your chinchilla'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 chinchillas may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.
Butorphanol dose range in chinchillas, with cited source references: IM 0.5 mg/kg once, combined with alfaxalone 5 mg/kg IM. Reference ranges from cited sources — verify against current literature before clinical use.
Documented routes for Butorphanol in chinchillas: IM.
Butorphanol is indicated in chinchillas for: Sedation/light-to-surgical anaesthesia in combination with alfaxalone.
These are general warnings for Butorphanol across species; consult the chinchilla 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 chinchillas — 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.