Reptile · Terrapene carolina · typical adult weight 0.30–0.60 kg
Meperidine is dosed at 1–5 mg/kg IM not stated (short duration of effect) in eastern box turtles, per 156. Kanui TI, Hole K. Morphine and pethidine antinociception in the crocodile. J Vet Pharmacol Ther. 1992;15:101-103. | 306. Sladky KK, Kinney ME, Johnson SM. Effects of opioid receptor activation on thermal antinociception in red-eared slider turtles (Trachemys scripta). Am J Vet Res. 2009;70:1072-1078. | 335. Wambugu SN, Towett PK, Kiama SG, et al. Effects of opioids in the formalin test in the Speke's hinged tortoise (Kinixy's spekii). J Vet Pharmacol Ther. 2010;33:347-351. — Source: Mader's Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery, 3rd Ed, p.1414 — SOURCE EDITION: Mader's Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery (Divers & Stahl) — ISBN 9780323482530, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323482530. Meperidine is used in eastern box turtles for analgesia. Routes documented in eastern box turtles: IM. A typical adult eastern box turtle weighs 0.30–0.60 kg. ExoticRx lists 1 cited dose rule for Meperidine in eastern box turtles, drawn from published veterinary references. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
| Route | Dose | Frequency | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IM | 1–5 mg/kg | not stated (short duration of effect) | analgesia | Weak | 156. Kanui TI, Hole K. Morphine and pethidine antinociception in the crocodile. J Vet Pharmacol Ther. 1992;15:101-103. | 306. Sladky KK, Kinney ME, Johnson SM. Effects of opioid receptor activation on thermal antinociception in red-eared slider turtles (Trachemys scripta). Am J Vet Res. 2009;70:1072-1078. | 335. Wambugu SN, Towett PK, Kiama SG, et al. Effects of opioids in the formalin test in the Speke's hinged tortoise (Kinixy's spekii). J Vet Pharmacol Ther. 2010;33:347-351. — Source: Mader's Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery, 3rd Ed, p.1414 — SOURCE EDITION: Mader's Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery (Divers & Stahl) — ISBN 9780323482530, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323482530 |
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.
| Dose (mg/kg) | Route | Source | As printed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5–10 | IM | Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th edTable 4.6 | 5-10 mg/kg IM q12-24h |
| 20 | IM | Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th edTable 4.6 | 20 mg/kg IM q12- 24h |
| 1–5 | IM | Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th edTable 4.6 | 1-5 mg/kg IM q6- 12h,431,480 |
| 2–4 | ICE | Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th ed |
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These ranges are per kg. Enter your eastern box turtle's weight to get the precise dose and draw-up volume — unit and concentration math done for you.
Added 2026-08-04 by the book-verification programme. Drug identity independently confirmed as distinct from every existing formulary entry. Source opened: Mader's Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery 3rd Ed, p.1414 (Table 127.6 Analgesic Agents); also Carpenter's 6th Ed p.255, p.454, p.792. Class as printed in source: Opioid agonist (phenylpiperidine, mu-receptor agonist) — analgesic/sedative
Species-specific contraindications and adverse-reaction reports for eastern box turtles may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.
Meperidine dose range in eastern box turtles, with cited source references: IM 1–5 mg/kg not stated (short duration of effect). Reference ranges from cited sources — verify against current literature before clinical use.
Documented routes for Meperidine in eastern box turtles: IM.
Meperidine is indicated in eastern box turtles for: analgesia.
These are general warnings for Meperidine across species; consult the eastern box turtle dosing table above for species-specific guidance. Added 2026-08-04 by the book-verification programme. Drug identity independently confirmed as distinct from every existing formulary entry. Source opened: Mader's Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery 3rd Ed, p.1414 (Table 127.6 Analgesic Agents); also Carpenter's 6th Ed p.255, p.454, p.792. Class as printed in source: Opioid agonist (phenylpiperidine, mu-receptor agonist) — analgesic/sedative
Why a species-specific page? Meperidine pharmacokinetics differ across species: dose ranges, intervals, and route preferences are not interchangeable. Cross-extrapolation from canine doses is unsafe in eastern box turtles — 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.
| 2-4 mg/kg q6-12h ICe |
| 1 | — | Mader's Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery, 3rd edTable 127.5 | (Mp) 1 mg/kg + (Mi) 1 mg/kg IM16 Green sea turtles/premedication |
| 5–10 | IM | Mader's Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery, 3rd edTable 127.6 | 5-10 mg/kg IM q12-24h118 Most species/analgesia; no noticeable effect in snakes even at 200 mg/kg |
| 20 | IM | Mader's Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery, 3rd edTable 127.6 | 20 mg/kg IM q12-24h183 Most species/analgesia |
| 1–5 | — | Mader's Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery, 3rd edTable 127.6 | 1-5 mg/kg IM156,306,335 Turtles, crocodiles/analgesic efficacy of short duration |
| 2–4 | — | Mader's Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery, 3rd edTable 127.6 | 2-4 mg/kg ICe3 Nile crocodiles/analgesia |
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.