Pocket Pet · Mustela putorius furo · typical adult weight 0.60–2.00 kg
Nalbuphine is dosed at 0.5–1.5 mg/kg IM, IV q2-3h in ferrets, per Jepson L. Ferrets. In: Jepson L, eds. Exotic Animal Medicine: A Quick Reference Guide, 2nd ed., Elsevier, St. Louis, MO; 2016:1-42. — Mined from Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.944 (2026-08-01, PENDING REVIEW). Nalbuphine is used in ferrets for Opioid analgesia. Routes documented in ferrets: IM, IV. A typical adult ferret weighs 0.60–2.00 kg. ExoticRx lists 1 cited dose rule for Nalbuphine in ferrets, drawn from published veterinary references. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
US trade names: Nubain
| Route | Dose | Frequency | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IM, IV | 0.5–1.5 mg/kg | q2-3h | Opioid analgesia | Weak | Jepson L. Ferrets. In: Jepson L, eds. Exotic Animal Medicine: A Quick Reference Guide, 2nd ed., Elsevier, St. Louis, MO; 2016:1-42. — Mined from Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.944 (2026-08-01, PENDING REVIEW) |
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These ranges are per kg. Enter your ferret's weight to get the precise dose and draw-up volume — unit and concentration math done for you.
Kappa opioid receptor agonist and mu opioid receptor antagonist. Provides moderate analgesia with ceiling effect on respiratory depression. Does not increase biliary pressure.
Not a controlled substance despite opioid activity. Ceiling analgesic effect. Will reverse mu-agonist analgesia if given concurrently. Used for moderate pain and to partially reverse mu-agonist side effects.
Species-specific contraindications and adverse-reaction reports for ferrets may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.
Nalbuphine dose range in ferrets, with cited source references: IM, IV 0.5–1.5 mg/kg q2-3h. Reference ranges from cited sources — verify against current literature before clinical use.
Documented routes for Nalbuphine in ferrets: IM, IV.
Nalbuphine is indicated in ferrets for: Opioid analgesia.
These are general warnings for Nalbuphine across species; consult the ferret dosing table above for species-specific guidance. Not a controlled substance despite opioid activity. Ceiling analgesic effect. Will reverse mu-agonist analgesia if given concurrently. Used for moderate pain and to partially reverse mu-agonist side effects.
Why a species-specific page? Nalbuphine pharmacokinetics differ across species: dose ranges, intervals, and route preferences are not interchangeable. Cross-extrapolation from canine doses is unsafe in ferrets — 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.