Reptile · Testudo horsfieldii · typical adult weight 0.23–0.91 kg
Lactulose is dosed at 0.5 mL/kg PO q24h in russian tortoises, per 222. Jepson L. Turtles and tortoises. In: Exotic Animal Medicine: A Quick Reference Guide, Saunders/Elsevier, Philadelphia, PA; 2009:358-411. | 243. Klaphake E, Gibbons PM, Sladky KK, et al. Reptiles. In: Carpenter JW, eds. Exotic Animal Formulary, 5th ed., Elsevier, St. Louis, MO; 2018:81-166. | 442. Stahl SJ. Medical management of bearded dragons. Proc North Am Vet Conf; 1999:789-792. — Mined from Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.274 (2026-08-01, PENDING REVIEW). Lactulose is used in russian tortoises for Hepatic lipidosis. Routes documented in russian tortoises: PO. A typical adult russian tortoise weighs 0.23–0.91 kg. ExoticRx lists 1 cited dose rule for Lactulose in russian tortoises, drawn from published veterinary references. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
US trade names: Kristalose, Cephulac
| Route | Dose | Frequency | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PO | 0.5 mL/kg | q24h | Hepatic lipidosis | Weak | 222. Jepson L. Turtles and tortoises. In: Exotic Animal Medicine: A Quick Reference Guide, Saunders/Elsevier, Philadelphia, PA; 2009:358-411. | 243. Klaphake E, Gibbons PM, Sladky KK, et al. Reptiles. In: Carpenter JW, eds. Exotic Animal Formulary, 5th ed., Elsevier, St. Louis, MO; 2018:81-166. | 442. Stahl SJ. Medical management of bearded dragons. Proc North Am Vet Conf; 1999:789-792. — Mined from Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.274 (2026-08-01, PENDING REVIEW) |
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These ranges are per kg. Enter your russian tortoise's weight to get the precise dose and draw-up volume — unit and concentration math done for you.
Synthetic disaccharide broken down by colonic bacteria to lactic, acetic, and formic acids. Osmotic effect draws water into colon. Acidifies colonic contents, converting ammonia to non-absorbable ammonium.
Dose to effect (soft stool). Excessive doses cause diarrhea, flatulence, cramping. Monitor electrolytes with chronic use. Essential in hepatic encephalopathy management.
Species-specific contraindications and adverse-reaction reports for russian tortoises may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.
Lactulose dose range in russian tortoises, with cited source references: PO 0.5 mL/kg q24h. Reference ranges from cited sources — verify against current literature before clinical use.
Documented routes for Lactulose in russian tortoises: PO.
Lactulose is indicated in russian tortoises for: Hepatic lipidosis.
These are general warnings for Lactulose across species; consult the russian tortoise dosing table above for species-specific guidance. Dose to effect (soft stool). Excessive doses cause diarrhea, flatulence, cramping. Monitor electrolytes with chronic use. Essential in hepatic encephalopathy management.
Why a species-specific page? Lactulose pharmacokinetics differ across species: dose ranges, intervals, and route preferences are not interchangeable. Cross-extrapolation from canine doses is unsafe in russian tortoises — 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.