Butorphanol for Dog
Dog · Canis lupus familiaris · typical adult weight 2.00–80.00 kg
Butorphanol is used in dog for Pre-anesthetic sedation, visceral pain, Visceral pain, sedation adjunct, pre-anesthetic, Antitussive, Mild visceral pain. Routes documented in dog: IM, IV, SC. A typical adult dog weighs 2.00–80.00 kg. ExoticRx lists 4 cited dose rules for Butorphanol in dog, drawn from published veterinary references. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
Trade names: Torbugesic, Torbutrol
Dose ranges
| Route | Dose | Frequency | Duration | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IM | 0.2–0.4 mg/kg | q2-4h | As needed | Pre-anesthetic sedation, visceral pain | Strong | Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 9th Ed |
| IV | 0.1–0.4 mg/kg | q2-4h | Short duration — repeat as needed | Visceral pain, sedation adjunct, pre-anesthetic | Strong | Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 9th Ed |
| IV | 0.05–0.1 mg/kg | q6-12h | As needed | Antitussive | Moderate | Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 9th Ed |
| SC | 0.2–0.4 mg/kg | q2-4h | As needed | Mild visceral pain | Strong | Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 9th Ed |
Need the exact dose for your patient?
These ranges are per kg. Enter your dog'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 dog may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.
Other Analgesic drugs with dog 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 dog — 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.