ExoticRx · exoticrx.com/drugs/hetastarch
US brand names:Hextend, Hespan
Hetastarch is dosed at 3–5 ml/kg slow IV or IO bolus prn 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.266 — 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 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 4.9 (Nutritional/Mineral/Fluid Support Used in Reptiles). The copy held is an ebook conversion with no printed page numbers, so the table — not the page — is the citable location.. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
Synthetic colloid maintaining intravascular oncotic pressure. Larger molecular weight than crystalloids providing longer intravascular duration (24 hours).
Coagulopathy risk (dilution and direct effect on vWF/Factor VIII). Acute kidney injury risk in critically ill. Max dose 20ml/kg/day in dogs. Not recommended in cats. Falling out of favor.
Species references:All African Grey Parrot drugsAll African Pygmy Hedgehog drugsAll Ball Python drugsAll Bearded Dragon drugsAll Dog (Domestic) drugsAll Pet Rat drugsAll Rabbit (Domestic) drugs
Each ExoticRx dose rule is graded by the strength of its primary evidence — see the editorial process.
Hetastarch CRI dose rule from the ExoticRx formulary. Verify against current literature before clinical use; CRI rates differ from bolus dosing and route, dilution, and monitoring matter. Sign in for the complete per-species CRI protocol set.
| Species | Route | Rate | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dog (Domestic) | IV | 5–20 ml/kgIV bolus or CRI | Hypovolemic shock, hypoalbuminemia | Moderate | VETSTARCH - Hydroxyethyl Starch 130/0.4 Substitution Injection, Solution [US Product Label]. Zoetis Inc.; 2016. (cited on the adjacent Vetstarch dosage entry; the Hespan entry quoted here carries no superscript) https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=070b8778-1e05-4ca4-99e3-a48f6db270dc — Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.653 (2026-08-01). — LOCATOR CONVENTION 2026-08-07: the bare 'p.653' in this citation is the PDF index of the held scan, not the printed page. The PRINTED page is p.626; verified by finding the drug named there. If you are holding the book, turn to p.626. — SOURCE EDITION: Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook — ISBN 9781394172207, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9781394172207 |
A dog/cat sample is shown here. Cited dosing for all 7 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dog (Domestic) | IV | 5–20 ml/kg | IV bolus or CRI | Moderate | VETSTARCH - Hydroxyethyl Starch 130/0.4 Substitution Injection, Solution [US Product Label]. Zoetis Inc.; 2016. (cited on the adjacent Vetstarch dosage entry; the Hespan entry quoted here carries no superscript) https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=070b8778-1e05-4ca4-99e3-a48f6db270dc — Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.653 (2026-08-01). — LOCATOR CONVENTION 2026-08-07: the bare 'p.653' in this citation is the PDF index of the held scan, not the printed page. The PRINTED page is p.626; verified by finding the drug named there. If you are holding the book, turn to p.626. — SOURCE EDITION: Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook — ISBN 9781394172207, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9781394172207 |
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Hypovolemic shock, hypoalbuminemia