Reptile · Pantherophis guttatus · typical adult weight 0.20–0.90 kg
Butorphanol is dosed at 0.4–1 mg/kg SC, IM not stated in corn snakes, per 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, St. Louis, MO; 2019:1191-1211. — Mined from Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.252 (2026-08-01, PENDING REVIEW). Butorphanol is used in corn snakes for Sedation; preanaesthetic. Routes documented in corn snakes: SC, IM. A typical adult corn snake weighs 0.20–0.90 kg. ExoticRx lists 1 cited dose rule for Butorphanol in corn snakes, drawn from published veterinary references. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
US trade names: Torbugesic, Torbutrol
| Route | Dose | Frequency | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SC, IM | 0.4–1 mg/kg | not stated | Sedation; preanaesthetic | Weak | 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, St. Louis, MO; 2019:1191-1211. — Mined from Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.252 (2026-08-01, PENDING REVIEW) |
Need the exact dose for your patient?
These ranges are per kg. Enter your corn snake'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 corn snakes may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.
Butorphanol dose range in corn snakes, with cited source references: SC, IM 0.4–1 mg/kg not stated. Reference ranges from cited sources — verify against current literature before clinical use.
Documented routes for Butorphanol in corn snakes: SC, IM.
Butorphanol is indicated in corn snakes for: Sedation; preanaesthetic.
These are general warnings for Butorphanol across species; consult the corn snake 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 corn snakes — 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.