Livestock · Gallus gallus domesticus · typical adult weight 0.50–5.00 kg
Morphine is dosed at 2.5–3 mg/kg SC, IM q4h in chickens, per Ritchie BW, Harrison GJ. Formulary. In: Ritchie BW, Harrison GJ, Harrison LR, eds. Avian Medicine: Principles and Applications; Wingers Publishing, Lake Worth, FL; 1994:457-478. — Mined from Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.644 (2026-08-01, PENDING REVIEW). Morphine is used in chickens for Analgesia. Routes documented in chickens: SC, IM. A typical adult chicken weighs 0.50–5.00 kg. ExoticRx lists 1 cited dose rule for Morphine in chickens, drawn from published veterinary references. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
| Route | Dose | Frequency | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SC, IM | 2.5–3 mg/kg | q4h | Analgesia | Weak | Ritchie BW, Harrison GJ. Formulary. In: Ritchie BW, Harrison GJ, Harrison LR, eds. Avian Medicine: Principles and Applications; Wingers Publishing, Lake Worth, FL; 1994:457-478. — Mined from Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.644 (2026-08-01, PENDING REVIEW) |
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These ranges are per kg. Enter your chicken'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 chickens may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.
Morphine dose range in chickens, with cited source references: SC, IM 2.5–3 mg/kg q4h. Reference ranges from cited sources — verify against current literature before clinical use.
Documented routes for Morphine in chickens: SC, IM.
Morphine is indicated in chickens for: Analgesia.
These are general warnings for Morphine across species; consult the chicken 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 chickens — 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.