Butorphanol for Sugar Gliders
Pocket Pet · Petaurus breviceps · typical adult weight 0.08–0.16 kg
Butorphanol is dosed at 0.1–0.5 mg/kg SC or IM q 6–8 h in sugar gliders, per MSD/Merck Veterinary Manual. Drugs Commonly Used to Treat Sugar Gliders (dosage table). https://www.msdvetmanual.com/multimedia/table/drugs-commonly-used-to-treat-sugar-gliders URL: https://www.msdvetmanual.com/multimedia/table/drugs-commonly-used-to-treat-sugar-gliders. Butorphanol is used in sugar gliders for Possible sedation at higher doses. Routes documented in sugar gliders: SC or IM. A typical adult sugar glider weighs 0.08–0.16 kg. ExoticRx lists 2 cited dose rules for Butorphanol in sugar gliders, 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 or IM | 0.1–0.5 mg/kg | q 6–8 h | Possible sedation at higher doses | Weak | MSD/Merck Veterinary Manual. Drugs Commonly Used to Treat Sugar Gliders (dosage table). https://www.msdvetmanual.com/multimedia/table/drugs-commonly-used-to-treat-sugar-gliders URL: https://www.msdvetmanual.com/multimedia/table/drugs-commonly-used-to-treat-sugar-gliders |
| SC or IM | 0.4–1 mg/kg | not specified | — | Weak | MSD/Merck Veterinary Manual. Drugs Commonly Used to Treat Sugar Gliders (dosage table). https://www.msdvetmanual.com/multimedia/table/drugs-commonly-used-to-treat-sugar-gliders URL: https://www.msdvetmanual.com/multimedia/table/drugs-commonly-used-to-treat-sugar-gliders |
Need the exact dose for your patient?
These ranges are per kg. Enter your sugar glider'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 sugar gliders 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 Sugar Gliders?
Butorphanol dose ranges in sugar gliders, with cited source references: SC or IM 0.1–0.5 mg/kg q 6–8 h; SC or IM 0.4–1 mg/kg not specified.
How is Butorphanol administered in Sugar Gliders?
Documented routes for Butorphanol in sugar gliders: SC or IM.
What conditions does Butorphanol treat in Sugar Gliders?
Butorphanol is indicated in sugar gliders for: Possible sedation at higher doses.
What are the side effects of Butorphanol in Sugar Gliders?
These are general warnings for Butorphanol across species; consult the sugar glider 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 sugar glider 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 sugar gliders — 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.