Reptile · Trachemys scripta elegans · typical adult weight 0.20–2.20 kg
Morphine is dosed at 1 mg/kg IM q24h in red-eared sliders, per Innis CJ, Feinsod R, Hanlon J, et al. Coelioscopic orchiectomy can be effectively and safely accomplished in chelonians. Vet Rec. 2013;172:526-531. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.255 doi:10.1136/vr.101475 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 4.6 (Analgesic (Including Antiinflammatory) Agents Used in Reptiles). The copy held is an ebook conversion with no printed page numbers, so the table — not the page — is the citable location. — SOURCE EDITION: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — ISBN 9780323833929, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323833929. Morphine is used in red-eared sliders for Analgesia, Regional analgesia of the caudal body, Surgical analgesia. Routes documented in red-eared sliders: IM, Intrathecal, SC. A typical adult red-eared slider weighs 0.20–2.20 kg. ExoticRx lists 3 cited dose rules for Morphine in red-eared sliders, drawn from published veterinary references. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
| Route | Dose | Frequency | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IM | 1 mg/kg | q24h | Analgesia | Moderate | Innis CJ, Feinsod R, Hanlon J, et al. Coelioscopic orchiectomy can be effectively and safely accomplished in chelonians. Vet Rec. 2013;172:526-531. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.255 doi:10.1136/vr.101475 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 4.6 (Analgesic (Including Antiinflammatory) Agents Used in Reptiles). The copy held is an ebook conversion with no printed page numbers, so the table — not the page — is the citable location. — SOURCE EDITION: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — ISBN 9780323833929, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323833929 |
| Intrathecal | 0.1–0.2 mg/kg | once | Regional analgesia of the caudal body | Moderate | Mans C. Clinical technique: intrathecal drug administration in turtles and tortoises. J Exot Pet Med. 2014;23:67-70. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.255 doi:10.1053/j.jepm.2013.11.011 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 4.6 (Analgesic (Including Antiinflammatory) Agents Used in Reptiles). The copy held is an ebook conversion with no printed page numbers, so the table — not the page — is the citable location. — SOURCE EDITION: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — ISBN 9780323833929, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323833929 |
| SC | 2 mg/kg | q24h | Surgical analgesia | Moderate | Kinney ME, Johnson SM, Sladky KK. Behavioral evaluation of red-eared slider turtles (Trachemys scripta elegans) administered either morphine or butorphanol following unilateral gonadectomy. J Herp Med Surg. 2011;21:54-62. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.256 doi:10.5818/1529-9651-21.2.54 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 4.6 (Analgesic (Including Antiinflammatory) Agents Used in Reptiles). The copy held is an ebook conversion with no printed page numbers, so the table — not the page — is the citable location. — SOURCE EDITION: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — ISBN 9780323833929, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323833929 |
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 |
| 1.5 | IM | BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, 10th ed — Part B (Exotic Pets)p.224 | 1.5 mg/kg i.m. b; Green iguanas, Bearded dragons: 1 mg/kg i.m |
| 1 | IM | BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, 10th ed — Part B (Exotic Pets)p.224 | 1.5 mg/kg i.m. b; Green iguanas, Bearded dragons: 1 mg/kg i.m |
| 2 |
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These ranges are per kg. Enter your red-eared slider'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 red-eared sliders may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.
Morphine dose ranges in red-eared sliders, with cited source references: IM 1 mg/kg q24h; Intrathecal 0.1–0.2 mg/kg once; SC 2 mg/kg q24h. Reference ranges from cited sources — verify against current literature before clinical use.
Documented routes for Morphine in red-eared sliders: IM, Intrathecal, SC.
Morphine is indicated in red-eared sliders for: Analgesia, Regional analgesia of the caudal body, Surgical analgesia.
These are general warnings for Morphine across species; consult the red-eared slider 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 red-eared sliders — 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.
| SC |
| Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th edTable 4.6 |
| 2 mg/kg SC q24h |
| 0.5–4 | ICE | 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 2 | — | Mader's Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery, 3rd edTable 127.6 | 2 mg/kg SC161 Red-eared slider turtles/surgical analgesia |
| 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.