Reptile · Salvator merianae · typical adult weight 0.55–3.50 kg
Morphine is dosed at 5–10 mg/kg IM single dose in the trial in argentine tegus, per Leal WP, Carregaro AB, Bressan TF, Bisetto SP, Melo CF, Sladky KK. Antinociceptive efficacy of intramuscular administration of morphine sulfate and butorphanol tartrate in tegus (Salvator merianae). Am J Vet Res. 2017;78(9):1019-1024. doi:10.2460/ajvr.78.9.1019 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28836839/. Morphine is used in argentine tegus for Analgesia. Routes documented in argentine tegus: IM. A typical adult argentine tegu weighs 0.55–3.50 kg. ExoticRx lists 1 cited dose rule for Morphine in argentine tegus, drawn from published veterinary references. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
| Route | Dose | Frequency | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IM | 5–10 mg/kg | single dose in the trial | Analgesia | Strong | Leal WP, Carregaro AB, Bressan TF, Bisetto SP, Melo CF, Sladky KK. Antinociceptive efficacy of intramuscular administration of morphine sulfate and butorphanol tartrate in tegus (Salvator merianae). Am J Vet Res. 2017;78(9):1019-1024. doi:10.2460/ajvr.78.9.1019 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28836839/ |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–5 | IM | BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, 10th ed — Part B (Exotic Pets)p.224 | 1-5 mg/kg i.m., although may result in significant respiratory depression especially at higher dose |
| 5–10 | SC | Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th edTable 4.6 | 5-10 mg/kg SC |
| 1.5–6.5 | SC | Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th edTable 4.6 | 1.5-6.5 mg/kg SC, IM q24h,432,434 |
| 0.5–4 | ICE |
Need the exact dose for your patient?
These ranges are per kg. Enter your argentine tegu's weight to get the precise dose and draw-up volume — unit and concentration math done for you.
Prototype full mu-opioid receptor agonist. Activates mu, kappa, and delta opioid receptors producing analgesia, sedation, and euphoria.
Histamine release with rapid IV injection (hypotension, bronchoconstriction — give slowly). Vomiting and defecation common initial effects. Respiratory depression. Cats: may cause excitation/dysphoria at higher doses. Controlled substance (Schedule II).
Species-specific contraindications and adverse-reaction reports for argentine tegus may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.
Morphine dose range in argentine tegus, with cited source references: IM 5–10 mg/kg single dose in the trial. Reference ranges from cited sources — verify against current literature before clinical use.
Documented routes for Morphine in argentine tegus: IM.
Morphine is indicated in argentine tegus for: Analgesia.
These are general warnings for Morphine across species; consult the argentine tegu dosing table above for species-specific guidance. Histamine release with rapid IV injection (hypotension, bronchoconstriction — give slowly). Vomiting and defecation common initial effects. Respiratory depression. Cats: may cause excitation/dysphoria at higher doses. Controlled substance (Schedule II).
Why a species-specific page? Morphine pharmacokinetics differ across species: dose ranges, intervals, and route preferences are not interchangeable. Cross-extrapolation from canine doses is unsafe in argentine tegus — 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.
| Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th edTable 4.6 |
| 0.5-4 mg/kg ICe q24h |
| 0.1–0.2 | — | Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th edTable 4.6 | 0.1-0.2 mg/kg intrathecal |
| 1.5–6.5 | SC | Mader's Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery, 3rd edTable 127.6 | 1.5-6.5 mg/kg SC, IM (Sladky KK, unpublished data)78,306-307 Red-eared sliders (long lasting respiratory depression), freshwater crocodiles, Anolis lizards/may be effective thermal |
| 0.5–4 | — | Mader's Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery, 3rd edTable 127.6 | 0.5-4 mg/kg ICe309 Crocodilians/analgesia |
| 38–42 | — | Mader's Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery, 3rd edTable 128.4 | 38-42 mg/kg SC27 Analgesia >4 hr |
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.