Butorphanol for Degus
Pocket Pet · Octodon degus · typical adult weight 0.17–0.30 kg
Butorphanol is dosed at 5 mg/kg SC once after surgery in degus, per Ikai Y, Nagura-Kato GA, Sakamoto SH, Shinohara A, Koshimoto C. Optimization of inhaled anesthesia for Octodon degus using electroencephalography. Exp Anim. 2025 Jan 10;74(1):93-103. doi:10.1538/expanim.24-0017. PMID: 39168618; PMCID: PMC11742480. URL: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11742480/. Butorphanol is used in degus for postoperative pain treatment. Routes documented in degus: SC. A typical adult degu weighs 0.17–0.30 kg. ExoticRx lists 1 cited dose rule for Butorphanol in degus, drawn from published veterinary references. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
Trade names: Torbugesic, Torbutrol
Dose ranges
| Route | Dose | Frequency | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SC | 5 mg/kg | once after surgery | postoperative pain treatment | Weak | Ikai Y, Nagura-Kato GA, Sakamoto SH, Shinohara A, Koshimoto C. Optimization of inhaled anesthesia for Octodon degus using electroencephalography. Exp Anim. 2025 Jan 10;74(1):93-103. doi:10.1538/expanim.24-0017. PMID: 39168618; PMCID: PMC11742480. URL: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11742480/ |
Need the exact dose for your patient?
These ranges are per kg. Enter your degu's weight to get the precise dose and draw-up volume — unit and concentration math done for you.
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 degus may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.
Frequently asked questions
What is the dose of Butorphanol for Degus?
Butorphanol dose range in degus, with cited source references: SC 5 mg/kg once after surgery.
How is Butorphanol administered in Degus?
Documented routes for Butorphanol in degus: SC.
What conditions does Butorphanol treat in Degus?
Butorphanol is indicated in degus for: postoperative pain treatment.
What are the side effects of Butorphanol in Degus?
These are general warnings for Butorphanol across species; consult the degu 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.
Other Analgesic drugs with degu 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 degus — 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.