Equine · Equus caballus · typical adult weight 350.00–700.00 kg
Butorphanol is dosed at 0.01–0.04 mg/kg IV Single IV dose with an alpha-2 agonist in horses, per Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th ed (2023, held copy; the original seed cited the 9th, which was never consulted) — 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. — figure located 2026-08-05 at Plumb's 10th ed printed p.160, Butorphanol monograph; the page cited previously does not carry it. — SOURCE EDITION: Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook — ISBN 9781394172207, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9781394172207. Butorphanol is used in horses for Sedation / chemical restraint with an alpha-2 agonist - NOT adequate as sole-agent analgesia - for colic use the label 0.1 mg/kg IV q3-4h. Routes documented in horses: IV. A typical adult horse weighs 350.00–700.00 kg. ExoticRx lists 1 cited dose rule for Butorphanol in horses, drawn from published veterinary references. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
US trade names: Torbugesic, Torbutrol
| Route | Dose | Frequency | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IV | 0.01–0.04 mg/kg | Single IV dose with an alpha-2 agonist | Sedation / chemical restraint with an alpha-2 agonist - NOT adequate as sole-agent analgesia - for colic use the label 0.1 mg/kg IV q3-4h | Strong | Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th ed (2023, held copy; the original seed cited the 9th, which was never consulted) — 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. — figure located 2026-08-05 at Plumb's 10th ed printed p.160, Butorphanol monograph; the page cited previously does not carry it. — 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 (mcg/kg) | Route | Source | As printed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 13–24 | IV | Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.122 | • CRI: 13-24 mcg/kg/hr (0.013-0.024 mg/kg) IV. |
| Dose (mg/kg) | Route | Source | As printed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.02–0.1 | IV | Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.122 | • Pain: 0.2-0.4 mg/kg q3-4h IV. In some instances, lower doses of 0.02-0.1 mg/kg |
| 0.04–0.2 | IV | Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.122 | IV or 0.04-0.2 mg/kg IM have been used. Lower doses of 0.1 mg/kg IV have |
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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 horses may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.
Butorphanol dose range in horses, with cited source references: IV 0.01–0.04 mg/kg Single IV dose with an alpha-2 agonist. Reference ranges from cited sources — verify against current literature before clinical use.
Documented routes for Butorphanol in horses: IV.
Butorphanol is indicated in horses for: Sedation / chemical restraint with an alpha-2 agonist - NOT adequate as sole-agent analgesia - for colic use the label 0.1 mg/kg IV q3-4h.
These are general warnings for Butorphanol across species; consult the horse 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 horses — 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.
| 0.2–0.4 |
| IV |
| Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.122 |
| • Pain: 0.2-0.4 mg/kg q3-4h IV. In some instances, lower doses of 0.02-0.1 mg/kg |
| 0.01–0.06 | IV | Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.122 | • Sedation: 0.01-0.06 mg/kg IV. |
| 0.013–0.024 | IV | Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.122 | • CRI: 13-24 mcg/kg/hr (0.013-0.024 mg/kg) IV. |
| 0.1 | IV | Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.122 | IV or 0.04-0.2 mg/kg IM have been used. Lower doses of 0.1 mg/kg IV have |
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.