Dexmedetomidine for Blue-tongue Skinks

Reptile · Tiliqua scincoides · typical adult weight 0.25–0.60 kg

Dexmedetomidine is dosed at 0.1 mg/kg SC not stated in the cited source in blue-tongue skinks, per Mans, C., Sladky, K., and Schumacher, J. (2019). General anesthesia. In: Mader's Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery, 3e (eds. S. Divers and S. Stahl), 447-464. St. Louis, MO: Elsevier. / Sladky, K. and Mans, C. (2012). Clinical anesthesia in reptiles. J. Exot. Pet. Med. 21 (1): 17-31. — Verified against Graham, Doss & Beaufrere, Exotic Animal Emergency and Critical Care Medicine, p.766 (2026-08-01). — LOCATOR CONVENTION 2026-08-07: the bare 'p.766' in this citation is the PDF index of the held scan, not the printed page. The PRINTED page is p.750; verified by finding the drug named there. If you are holding the book, turn to p.750. — SOURCE EDITION: Mader's Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery (Divers & Stahl) — ISBN 9780323482530, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323482530; Exotic Animal Emergency and Critical Care Medicine — ISBN 9781119149231, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9781119149231. Dexmedetomidine is used in blue-tongue skinks for Sedation/anesthesia — dexmedetomidine + midazolam combination (group DM), Sedation/anesthesia — alfaxalone + dexmedetomidine + midazolam combination (group ADM). Routes documented in blue-tongue skinks: SC. A typical adult blue-tongue skink weighs 0.25–0.60 kg. ExoticRx lists 2 cited dose rules for Dexmedetomidine in blue-tongue skinks, drawn from published veterinary references. Verify against current literature before clinical use.

US trade names: Dexdomitor, Sileo

Dose ranges

Route	Dose	Frequency	Indication

What each reference text prints

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.

Printed doses in mg/kg for this drug and species, by source
Dose (mg/kg)	Route	Source	As printed
0.2	IM	Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th edTable 4.6	0.2 mg/kg IM
1	—	Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th edTable 4.6	lam (Mi) 1 mg/kg
40–120	—	Mader's Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery, 3rd edTable 128.4	40-120 mg/kg SC27 Analgesia >4 hr; ED50b in leopard frogs

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.

Side effects & warnings

Profound cardiovascular effects: initial hypertension then hypotension, bradycardia. Avoid in animals with cardiac disease, hepatic or renal disease. Reversible with atipamezole. Vomiting common after IM injection.

Species-specific contraindications and adverse-reaction reports for blue-tongue skinks may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.

Frequently asked questions

What is the dose of Dexmedetomidine for Blue-tongue Skinks?

Dexmedetomidine dose ranges in blue-tongue skinks, with cited source references: SC 0.1 mg/kg not stated in the cited source; SC 0.05 mg/kg not stated in the cited source. Reference ranges from cited sources — verify against current literature before clinical use.

How is Dexmedetomidine administered in Blue-tongue Skinks?

Documented routes for Dexmedetomidine in blue-tongue skinks: SC.

What conditions does Dexmedetomidine treat in Blue-tongue Skinks?

Dexmedetomidine is indicated in blue-tongue skinks for: Sedation/anesthesia — dexmedetomidine + midazolam combination (group DM), Sedation/anesthesia — alfaxalone + dexmedetomidine + midazolam combination (group ADM).

What are the side effects of Dexmedetomidine in Blue-tongue Skinks?

These are general warnings for Dexmedetomidine across species; consult the blue-tongue skink dosing table above for species-specific guidance. Profound cardiovascular effects: initial hypertension then hypotension, bradycardia. Avoid in animals with cardiac disease, hepatic or renal disease. Reversible with atipamezole. Vomiting common after IM injection.