Bird · Taeniopygia guttata · typical adult weight 0.01–0.02 kg
Butorphanol is dosed at 1 mg/kg IM not stated in the cited source in zebra finches, per Curro TG, Brunson DB, Paul-Murphy J. Determination of the ED50 of isoflurane and evaluation of the isoflurane-sparing effect of butorphanol in cockatoos (Cacatua spp.). Vet Surg. 1994;23:429-433. / 764. Riggs SM, Hawkins MG, Craigmill AL, et al. Pharmacokinetics of butorphanol tartrate in red-tailed hawks (Buteo jamaicensis) and great horned owls (Bubo virginianus). Am J Vet Res. 2008;69:596-603. / 820. Sanchez-Migallon Guzman D, Flammer K, Paul-Murphy J, et al. Pharmacokinetics of butorphanol after oral, intravenous and intramuscular administration in Hispaniolan Amazon parrots (Amazona ventralis). J Avian Med Surg. 2011;25:185-191. doi:10.1111/j.1532-950x.1994.tb00502.x — Verified against Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.448 (2026-08-01). — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 5.5 (Chemical Restraint/Anesthetic/Sedative/Analgesic Agents Used in Birds.a,b). 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. Butorphanol is used in zebra finches for Preanesthetic medication / analgesia (premedication before isoflurane), Premedication/analgesia prior to isoflurane anesthesia induction (given 10 min before induction). Routes documented in zebra finches: IM. A typical adult zebra finch weighs 0.01–0.02 kg. ExoticRx lists 2 cited dose rules for Butorphanol in zebra finches, drawn from published veterinary references. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
US trade names: Torbugesic, Torbutrol
| Route | Dose | Frequency | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IM | 1 mg/kg | not stated in the cited source | Preanesthetic medication / analgesia (premedication before isoflurane) | Weak | Curro TG, Brunson DB, Paul-Murphy J. Determination of the ED50 of isoflurane and evaluation of the isoflurane-sparing effect of butorphanol in cockatoos (Cacatua spp.). Vet Surg. 1994;23:429-433. / 764. Riggs SM, Hawkins MG, Craigmill AL, et al. Pharmacokinetics of butorphanol tartrate in red-tailed hawks (Buteo jamaicensis) and great horned owls (Bubo virginianus). Am J Vet Res. 2008;69:596-603. / 820. Sanchez-Migallon Guzman D, Flammer K, Paul-Murphy J, et al. Pharmacokinetics of butorphanol after oral, intravenous and intramuscular administration in Hispaniolan Amazon parrots (Amazona ventralis). J Avian Med Surg. 2011;25:185-191. doi:10.1111/j.1532-950x.1994.tb00502.x — Verified against Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.448 (2026-08-01). — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 5.5 (Chemical Restraint/Anesthetic/Sedative/Analgesic Agents Used in Birds.a,b). 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 |
| IM | 1 mg/kg | q1-4h | Premedication/analgesia prior to isoflurane anesthesia induction (given 10 min before induction) | Weak | Riggs SM, Hawkins MG, Craigmill AL, et al. Pharmacokinetics of butorphanol tartrate in red-tailed hawks (Buteo jamaicensis) and great horned owls (Bubo virginianus). Am J Vet Res. 2008;69:596-603. / 820. Sanchez-Migallon Guzman D, Flammer K, Paul-Murphy J, et al. Pharmacokinetics of butorphanol after oral, intravenous and intramuscular administration in Hispaniolan Amazon parrots (Amazona ventralis). J Avian Med Surg. 2011;25:185-191. — Verified against Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.448 (2026-08-01). — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 5.5 (Chemical Restraint/Anesthetic/Sedative/Analgesic Agents Used in Birds.a,b). 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, |
Every held source for this drug and species, as printed. Where they differ, both are shown — the choice is yours, not ours.
| Dose (mg/kg) | Route | Source | As printed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.3–4 | IM | BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, 10th ed — Part B (Exotic Pets)p.61 | 0.3-4 mg/kg i.m., i.v. q2-12h a,b |
| 3 | — | BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, 10th ed — Part B (Exotic Pets)p.61 | 3 mg/kg via the intranasal route combined with butorphanol. Use lower end doses for raptors. May |
| 0.5–4 | IM | Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th edTable 5.5 | 0.5-4 mg/kg IM, IV q1- 4h,321,485,683,764,82 |
| 1–6 | IM | Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th edTable 5.5 | 1-6 mg/kg IM |
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.
Need the exact dose for your patient?
These ranges are per kg. Enter your zebra finch'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 zebra finches may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.
Butorphanol dose ranges in zebra finches, with cited source references: IM 1 mg/kg not stated in the cited source; IM 1 mg/kg q1-4h. Reference ranges from cited sources — verify against current literature before clinical use.
Documented routes for Butorphanol in zebra finches: IM.
Butorphanol is indicated in zebra finches for: Preanesthetic medication / analgesia (premedication before isoflurane), Premedication/analgesia prior to isoflurane anesthesia induction (given 10 min before induction).
These are general warnings for Butorphanol across species; consult the zebra finch 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 zebra finches — 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.