ExoticRx · exoticrx.com/drugs/doxapram
US brand names:Dopram
Doxapram is dosed at 4–12 mg/kg IM, IV not stated in source in ball pythons, per 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.238 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 4.5 (Chemical Restraint/Anesthetic Agents Used in Reptiles.a). Located 2026-08-05: the only table covering this species in which the drug's own row prints this dose. The copy held is an ebook conversion with no printed page numbers, so the table is the citable location. — 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, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323482530. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
Stimulates peripheral carotid chemoreceptors and central medullary respiratory centers, increasing tidal volume and respiratory rate.
Short duration of action (minutes). Use for neonatal resuscitation or post-anesthetic apnea. May cause hypertension, tachycardia, and seizures at high doses. Ensure adequate airway before use.
Each ExoticRx dose rule is graded by the strength of its primary evidence — see the editorial process.
A dog/cat sample is shown here. Cited dosing for all 27 species — reptiles, birds, pocket pets, livestock, and equine — is free on the per-species pages above. Pro adds the weight-based calculator for every species.
| Species | Route | Dose | Frequency | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cat (Domestic) | IV | 1–2 mg/kitten (total dose, NOT mg/kg) | once | Moderate | Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th ed, Doxapram monograph, corpus p.455, label dosage (FDA-approved): "To initiate or stimulate respirations in neonates after cesarean section or dystocia ... Kittens: 1 […]". Corroborated Papich 5th ed corpus p.298: "Neonate: 1-5 mg SQ, sublingual, or via umbilical vein" (a flat mg dose, not per kg). |
| Dog (Domestic) | IV | 1.1–10 mg/kg | once; may repeat in 15-20 min | Moderate | Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th ed (2023, held copy; the original seed cited the 9th, which was never consulted) — Plumb's 10th ed (held) printed p.426, Doxapram monograph spanning p.426-428; page located 2026-08-05 from the book's own running heads, verified to name the drug in its body text. — figure located 2026-08-05 at Plumb's 10th ed printed p.428, Doxapram monograph; the page cited previously does not carry it. — SOURCE EDITION: Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook — ISBN 9781394172207, |
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Species references:All African Grey Parrot drugsAll African Pygmy Hedgehog drugsAll Ball Python drugsAll Bearded Dragon drugsAll Betta (Siamese fighting fish) drugsAll Blue-tongue Skink drugsAll Cat (Domestic) drugsAll Chinchilla drugsAll Crested Gecko drugsAll Degu drugsAll Dog (Domestic) drugsAll Dwarf Hamster drugsAll Eastern Box Turtle drugsAll Ferret drugsAll Goldfish drugsAll Great Horned Owl drugsAll Guinea Pig drugsAll Harris Hawk drugsAll Koi drugs