Pocket Pet · Mustela putorius furo · typical adult weight 0.60–2.00 kg
Hydromorphone is dosed at 0.2 mg/kg IV Single dose studied in ferrets, per Hech B, Knych H, Desprez I, Weiner D, Ambros B. Pharmacokinetics of hydromorphone hydrochloride after intravenous and subcutaneous administration in ferrets (Mustela putorius furo). Vet Anaesth Analg. 2024;51(2):152-159. doi:10.1016/j.vaa.2023.11.009 https://europepmc.org/article/MED/38158281. Hydromorphone is used in ferrets for Acute pain / peri-operative opioid analgesia, Opioid analgesia. Routes documented in ferrets: IV, SC, SC, IM, IV. A typical adult ferret weighs 0.60–2.00 kg. ExoticRx lists 3 cited dose rules for Hydromorphone in ferrets, drawn from published veterinary references. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
US trade names: Dilaudid
| Route | Dose | Frequency | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IV | 0.2 mg/kg | Single dose studied | Acute pain / peri-operative opioid analgesia | Strong |
| Hech B, Knych H, Desprez I, Weiner D, Ambros B. Pharmacokinetics of hydromorphone hydrochloride after intravenous and subcutaneous administration in ferrets (Mustela putorius furo). Vet Anaesth Analg. 2024;51(2):152-159. doi:10.1016/j.vaa.2023.11.009 https://europepmc.org/article/MED/38158281 |
| SC | 0.2 mg/kg | Single dose studied | Acute pain / peri-operative opioid analgesia | Strong | Hech B, Knych H, Desprez I, Weiner D, Ambros B. Pharmacokinetics of hydromorphone hydrochloride after intravenous and subcutaneous administration in ferrets (Mustela putorius furo). Vet Anaesth Analg. 2024;51(2):152-159. doi:10.1016/j.vaa.2023.11.009 https://europepmc.org/article/MED/38158281 |
| SC, IM, IV | 0.1–0.2 mg/kg | not stated in source | Opioid analgesia | Weak | Lewington JH. Appendix. In: Lewington JH, eds. Ferret Husbandry, Medicine and Surgery; Butterworth Heinemann, Oxford, UK; 2000:273-282. — Mined from Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.944 (2026-08-01, PENDING REVIEW) |
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These ranges are per kg. Enter your ferret's weight to get the precise dose and draw-up volume — unit and concentration math done for you.
Semi-synthetic opioid agonist at mu-opioid receptors, producing potent analgesia, sedation, and euphoria. Approximately 5-7x more potent than morphine.
Respiratory depression, bradycardia, hypothermia. May cause panting and hyperthermia in cats. Vomiting common after initial dose in dogs. Schedule II controlled substance. Naloxone is the reversal agent.
Species-specific contraindications and adverse-reaction reports for ferrets may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.
Hydromorphone dose ranges in ferrets, with cited source references: IV 0.2 mg/kg Single dose studied; SC 0.2 mg/kg Single dose studied; SC, IM, IV 0.1–0.2 mg/kg not stated in source. Reference ranges from cited sources — verify against current literature before clinical use.
Documented routes for Hydromorphone in ferrets: IV, SC, SC, IM, IV.
Hydromorphone is indicated in ferrets for: Acute pain / peri-operative opioid analgesia, Opioid analgesia.
These are general warnings for Hydromorphone across species; consult the ferret dosing table above for species-specific guidance. Respiratory depression, bradycardia, hypothermia. May cause panting and hyperthermia in cats. Vomiting common after initial dose in dogs. Schedule II controlled substance. Naloxone is the reversal agent.
Why a species-specific page? Hydromorphone pharmacokinetics differ across species: dose ranges, intervals, and route preferences are not interchangeable. Cross-extrapolation from canine doses is unsafe in ferrets — 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.