Reptile · Eublepharis macularius · typical adult weight 0.04–0.10 kg
Butorphanol is dosed at 1–1.5 mg/kg SC, IM once, 30 min before isoflurane in leopard geckos, per 295. Schumacher J. Reptiles and amphibians. In: Thurman JC, Tranquilli WJ, Benson GJ, eds. Lumb and Jones' Veterinary Anesthesia. 3rd ed. Baltimore: Williams & Wilkins; 1996:670-685. — Source: Mader's Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery, 3rd Ed, p.1408 — SOURCE EDITION: Mader's Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery (Divers & Stahl) — ISBN 9780323482530, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323482530. Butorphanol is used in leopard geckos for Preanaesthetic / smoother isoflurane induction. Routes documented in leopard geckos: SC, IM. A typical adult leopard gecko weighs 0.04–0.10 kg. ExoticRx lists 1 cited dose rule for Butorphanol in leopard geckos, 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 | 1–1.5 mg/kg | once, 30 min before isoflurane | Preanaesthetic / smoother isoflurane induction | Weak | 295. Schumacher J. Reptiles and amphibians. In: Thurman JC, Tranquilli WJ, Benson GJ, eds. Lumb and Jones' Veterinary Anesthesia. 3rd ed. Baltimore: Williams & Wilkins; 1996:670-685. — Source: Mader's Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery, 3rd Ed, p.1408 — SOURCE EDITION: Mader's Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery (Divers & Stahl) — ISBN 9780323482530, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323482530 |
Every held source for this drug and species, as printed. Where they differ, both are shown — the choice is yours, not ours.
The sources disagree for this combination. The ranges below do not overlap on a comparable route. This is not an error in one of them — published veterinary references differ, and reconciling them for a particular patient is a clinical judgement.
| Dose (mg/kg) | Route | Source | As printed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.5–2 | IM | BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, 10th ed — Part B (Exotic Pets)p.61 | Doses of 0.5-2 mg/kg i.m. q24h have been suggested for sedation but are not proven to provide analgesia. Beard |
| 1.5 | IM | BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, 10th ed — Part B (Exotic Pets)p.61 | roven to provide analgesia. Bearded dragons, Green iguanas: 1.5 mg/kg i.m. q24h c |
| 0.5–2 | IM | Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th edTable 4.5 | 0.5-2 mg/kg IM or 0.2- 0.5 mg/kg IV, IO |
| 0.2–0.5 |
Need the exact dose for your patient?
These ranges are per kg. Enter your leopard gecko'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 leopard geckos may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.
Butorphanol dose range in leopard geckos, with cited source references: SC, IM 1–1.5 mg/kg once, 30 min before isoflurane. Reference ranges from cited sources — verify against current literature before clinical use.
Documented routes for Butorphanol in leopard geckos: SC, IM.
Butorphanol is indicated in leopard geckos for: Preanaesthetic / smoother isoflurane induction.
These are general warnings for Butorphanol across species; consult the leopard gecko 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 leopard geckos — 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.
| IV |
| Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th edTable 4.5 |
| 0.5-2 mg/kg IM or 0.2- 0.5 mg/kg IV, IO |
| 1–1.5 | SC | Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th edTable 4.5 | 1-1.5 mg/kg SC, IM |
| 0.4–1 | SC | Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th edTable 4.5 | 0.4-1 mg/kg SC, IM |
| 0.08 | — | Mader's Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery, 3rd edTable 127.5 | (B) 0.4 mg/kg + (Me) 0.08 mg/kg IM95 Green tree monitors/sedation |
| 2 | — | Mader's Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery, 3rd edTable 127.5 | (B) 0.4 mg/kg + (Mi) 2 mg/kg IM22 Most species/preanesthetic; administer 20 min before induction |
| 0.4–1 | IM | Mader's Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery, 3rd edTable 127.6 | 0.4-1 mg/kg SC, IM295 Most species; sedation; preanesthetic; 0.2 mg/kg IM used experimentally in tortoises98 |
| 0.2–0.4 | — | Mader's Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery, 3rd edTable 128.4 | 0.2-0.4 mg/kg IM52 Analgesia; efficacy uncertain52 |
| 0.4–1 | SC | Mader's Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery, 3rd edTable 127.4 | 0.4-1 mg/kg SC, IM295 0.5-2 mg/kg IM, or 0.2-0.5 mg/kg IV, IO2 Most species/sedation; preanesthetic 3 Most species/preanesthetic |
| 0.5–2 | SC | Mader's Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery, 3rd edTable 127.4 | 0.4-1 mg/kg SC, IM295 0.5-2 mg/kg IM, or 0.2-0.5 mg/kg IV, IO2 Most species/sedation; preanesthetic 3 Most species/preanesthetic |
| 0.2–0.5 | SC | Mader's Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery, 3rd edTable 127.4 | 0.4-1 mg/kg SC, IM295 0.5-2 mg/kg IM, or 0.2-0.5 mg/kg IV, IO2 Most species/sedation; preanesthetic 3 Most species/preanesthetic |
| 1–1.5 | SC | Mader's Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery, 3rd edTable 127.4 | 1-1.5 mg/kg SC, IM295 Lizards/administer 30 min before isoflurane for smoother, shorter induction |
| 0.4 | — | Mader's Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery, 3rd edTable 127.5 | (B) 0.4 mg/kg + (Mi) 2 mg/kg IM22 Most species/preanesthetic; administer 20 min before induction |
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.