Reptile · Testudo horsfieldii · typical adult weight 0.23–0.91 kg
Butorphanol is dosed at 0.2 mg/kg IM single dose in russian tortoises, per 182. Heard DJ. Principles and techniques of anesthesia and analgesia for exotic practice. Vet Clin North Am Small Anim Pract. 1993;23:1301-1327. | 386. Raphael BL. Chelonians. In: Fowler ME, Miller RE, eds. Zoo and Wild Animal Medicine, 5th ed., Saunders/Elsevier, Philadelphia, PA; 2003:48-58. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.236 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 4.5 (Chemical Restraint/Anesthetic Agents Used in Reptiles.a). The copy held is an ebook conversion with no printed page numbers, so the table — not the page — is the citable location. — SOURCE EDITION: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — ISBN 9780323833929, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323833929; Zoo Animal and Wildlife Immobilization and Anesthesia — ISBN 9780813811833, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780813811833; Fowler's Zoo and Wild Animal Medicine: Current Therapy — ISBN 9780323828529, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323828529. Butorphanol is used in russian tortoises for Sedation (minimal), Sedation; preanaesthetic. Routes documented in russian tortoises: IM, SC, IM. A typical adult russian tortoise weighs 0.23–0.91 kg. ExoticRx lists 2 cited dose rules for Butorphanol in russian tortoises, drawn from published veterinary references. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
US trade names: Torbugesic, Torbutrol
| Route | Dose | Frequency | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IM | 0.2 mg/kg | single dose | Sedation (minimal) | Weak | 182. Heard DJ. Principles and techniques of anesthesia and analgesia for exotic practice. Vet Clin North Am Small Anim Pract. 1993;23:1301-1327. | 386. Raphael BL. Chelonians. In: Fowler ME, Miller RE, eds. Zoo and Wild Animal Medicine, 5th ed., Saunders/Elsevier, Philadelphia, PA; 2003:48-58. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.236 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 4.5 (Chemical Restraint/Anesthetic Agents Used in Reptiles.a). The copy held is an ebook conversion with no printed page numbers, so the table — not the page — is the citable location. — SOURCE EDITION: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — ISBN 9780323833929, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323833929; Zoo Animal and Wildlife Immobilization and Anesthesia — ISBN 9780813811833, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780813811833; Fowler's Zoo and Wild Animal Medicine: Current Therapy — ISBN 9780323828529, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323828529 |
| SC, IM | 0.4–1 mg/kg | single dose (preanaesthetic) | Sedation; preanaesthetic | Weak | 63. 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. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.236 — SOURCE EDITION: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — ISBN 9780323833929, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323833929; Mader's Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery (Divers & Stahl) — ISBN 9780323482530, [w3r2 2026-08-14] LOCATOR: Carpenter 6th ed, Table 4.5 (Chemical Restraint/Anesthetic Agents Used in Reptiles). Held copy is a paginationless ebook conversion, so the table and not the page is the citable location. Superscript 63 resolves to Carpenter JW, Klaphake E, Gibbons PM, et al, Reptile formulary, in Divers SJ and Stahl SJ eds, Mader Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery 3rd ed, Elsevier, St. Louis MO, 2019:1191-1211. |
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 |
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These ranges are per kg. Enter your russian tortoise'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 russian tortoises may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.
Butorphanol dose ranges in russian tortoises, with cited source references: IM 0.2 mg/kg single dose; SC, IM 0.4–1 mg/kg single dose (preanaesthetic). Reference ranges from cited sources — verify against current literature before clinical use.
Documented routes for Butorphanol in russian tortoises: IM, SC, IM.
Butorphanol is indicated in russian tortoises for: Sedation (minimal), Sedation; preanaesthetic.
These are general warnings for Butorphanol across species; consult the russian tortoise 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 russian tortoises — 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 |
| 0.2 | IM | Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th edTable 4.5 | 0.2 mg/kg IM,386 |
| 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 |
| 0.2 | — | Mader's Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery, 3rd edTable 127.4 | 0.2 mg/kg IM118,275 Chelonians/minimal sedation |
| 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.