What is Terbutaline used for?

Terbutaline is indicated for: Acute bronchospasm, Acute feline asthma exacerbation, Acute respiratory distress, Bradyarrhythmias, Bronchodilation, Bronchodilation (respiratory inhalant toxicosis), Bronchodilator, Bronchospasm, Chronic feline asthma maintenance, obstructive pulmonary disease, pneumonitis.

What routes can Terbutaline be administered by?

Available routes: PO, SC, IM, IV.

Which species have cited Terbutaline dosing data?

Terbutaline dosing in the ExoticRx formulary covers 9 species: African Grey Parrot, Amazon Parrot, Blue-and-Gold Macaw, Cat (Domestic), Dog (Domestic), Green-cheeked Conure, Lovebird, Rabbit (Domestic), Umbrella Cockatoo.

Is Terbutaline a controlled substance?

Terbutaline is not federally scheduled in the US. Controlled-drug status differs by country — verify your local rules.

Terbutaline

US brand names:Brethine

Calculate dosage

Sourced from published veterinary references. Awaiting credentialed clinical reviewer — our editorial process.

Terbutaline is dosed at 0.01 mg/kg SC q12h in rabbits, per Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, rabbit miscellaneous-agents table, p.880: 'Terbutaline 0.01 mg/kg SC q12h'. Superscript 66 = Ferris RL, Quesenberry KE, Weisse CW. Outcome of intraluminal tracheal stent placement for tracheal stenosis in a rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus). J Exot Pet Med. 2019;31C:23-27 (read in full at carpenter refs p.906). — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 10.10 (Miscellaneous Agents Used in Rabbits). Verify against current literature before clinical use.

Drug Class

Respiratory

Routes

POSCIMIV

Indications

Acute bronchospasmAcute feline asthma exacerbation

Acute respiratory distress

Bronchodilation (respiratory inhalant toxicosis)

Chronic feline asthma maintenance

obstructive pulmonary disease

Mechanism of Action

Selective beta-2 adrenergic agonist. Relaxes bronchial smooth muscle, promoting bronchodilation. Also inhibits mast cell mediator release.

Side effects & warnings

Tachycardia, tremors, and restlessness at high doses. Use with caution in animals with cardiac arrhythmias or hyperthyroidism. Monitor heart rate.

Evidence levels across 14 dose rules

Anecdotal×3Weak×6Moderate×4Extrapolated×1

Each ExoticRx dose rule is graded by the strength of its primary evidence — see the editorial process.

Sample dosing (2 of 14 cited rules)

A dog/cat sample is shown here. Cited dosing for all 9 species — reptiles, birds, pocket pets, livestock, and equine — is free on the per-species pages above. Pro adds the weight-based calculator for every species.

Species	Route	Dose	Frequency	Evidence	Source
Cat (Domestic)	PO	0.1–0.2 mg/kg	q12h	Moderate	Riviere JE, Papich MG. Veterinary Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Ch.22 Antiarrhythmic Agents, Table 22.2 - the only retrieved page printing 0.1-0.2 mg/kg PO q12h for catsCompilation only — we have not located an independent source that prints this figure.
Cat (Domestic)	PO	0.1 mg/kg	q8-12h	Moderate	Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th ed (2023) — Plumb's 10th ed printed p.1213, Terbutaline monograph spanning p.1213-1214. — verbatim at that page: "0.625 mg/cat (NOT mg/kg) PO. alternatively, 0.01 mg/kg IM or SC if the cat is intolerant of oral administration".Compilation only — we have not located an independent source that prints this figure.

Backed by 13 published sourcesShow

· 529. Lichtenberger M. Treatment of respiratory inhalant toxins in 4 psittacine birds. Proc Annu Conf Assoc Avian Vet; 2003:39-43. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.488 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 5.16 (Agents Used in Bird Emergencies.a). — SOURCE ROW: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 5.18 — "Terbutaline 0.01 mg/kg PO, IM q6h(529) — Psittacines/alpha2-selective smooth muscle bronchodilator". Reference 529 = Lichtenberger M, "Treatment of respiratory inhalant toxins in 4 psittacine birds", Proc Annu Conf Assoc Avian Vet 2003:39-43 — a four-bird conference report, which is why this is graded WEAK across every species it covers.
· 529. Lichtenberger M. Treatment of respiratory inhalant toxins in 4 psittacine birds. Proc Annu Conf Assoc Avian Vet; 2003:39-43. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.494 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 5.18 (Miscellaneous Agents Used in Birds). — SOURCE ROW: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 5.18 — "Terbutaline 0.01 mg/kg PO, IM q6h(529) — Psittacines/alpha2-selective smooth muscle bronchodilator". Reference 529 = Lichtenberger M, "Treatment of respiratory inhalant toxins in 4 psittacine birds", Proc Annu Conf Assoc Avian Vet 2003:39-43 — a four-bird conference report, which is why this is graded WEAK across every species it covers.

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Other formulations of Terbutaline

Terbutaline Injectable

· 789. Rupiper DJ.Personal communication. 2004. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.494 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 5.18 (Miscellaneous Agents Used in Birds). — SOURCE ROW: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 5.18 — "Terbutaline 0.1 mg/kg PO q12-24h(789) — Macaws, Amazon parrots/bronchodilator; obstructive pulmonary disease". Reference 789 = "Rupiper DJ. Personal communication. 2004." — an UNPUBLISHED personal communication, which is why this is graded ANECDOTAL. The same table prints 0.01 mg/kg PO, IM q6h for psittacines generally, from a published source.

· BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, 10th ed, Part A (Canine and Feline), Terbutaline, printed p.395

· Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, rabbit miscellaneous-agents table, p.880: 'Terbutaline 0.01 mg/kg SC q12h'. Superscript 66 = Ferris RL, Quesenberry KE, Weisse CW. Outcome of intraluminal tracheal stent placement for tracheal stenosis in a rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus). J Exot Pet Med. 2019;31C:23-27 (read in full at carpenter refs p.906). — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 10.10 (Miscellaneous Agents Used in Rabbits).

· Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th ed. (2023), p.494; corroborated by Current Therapy in Avian Medicine and Surgery, 1st ed. (2016), p.838. — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 5.18 (Miscellaneous Agents Used in Birds). — SOURCE ROW: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 5.18 — "Terbutaline 0.01 mg/kg PO, IM q6h(529) — Psittacines/alpha2-selective smooth muscle bronchodilator". Reference 529 = Lichtenberger M, "Treatment of respiratory inhalant toxins in 4 psittacine birds", Proc Annu Conf Assoc Avian Vet 2003:39-43 — a four-bird conference report, which is why this is graded WEAK across every species it covers.

· Lichtenberger M. Treatment of respiratory inhalant toxins in 4 psittacine birds. Proc Annu Conf Assoc Avian Vet; 2003:39-43. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.494 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 5.18 (Miscellaneous Agents Used in Birds). — SOURCE ROW: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 5.18 — "Terbutaline 0.01 mg/kg PO, IM q6h(529) — Psittacines/alpha2-selective smooth muscle bronchodilator". Reference 529 = Lichtenberger M, "Treatment of respiratory inhalant toxins in 4 psittacine birds", Proc Annu Conf Assoc Avian Vet 2003:39-43 — a four-bird conference report, which is why this is graded WEAK across every species it covers.

· Odunayo A. Management of potassium disorders. Clinician's Brief. 2014;12:69-72. PMID: 42056998 — Plumb's 10th ed printed p.1214, Terbutaline monograph spanning p.1213-1214.

· Padrid P. Feline bronchial disease: therapeutic recommendations for the 21st century. Presented at: North American Veterinary Conference; 2000. — Plumb's 10th ed printed p.1214, Terbutaline monograph spanning p.1213-1214.

· Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th ed (2023) — Plumb's 10th ed printed p.1213, Terbutaline monograph spanning p.1213-1214. — verbatim at that page: "0.625 mg/cat (NOT mg/kg) PO. alternatively, 0.01 mg/kg IM or SC if the cat is intolerant of oral administration".

· Rishniw M, Thomas W. Bradyarrhythmias. In: Kirk's Current Veterinary Therapy: XIII Small Animal Practice. WB Saunders; 2000:719-725. — Plumb's 10th ed printed p.1213, Terbutaline monograph spanning p.1213-1214.

· Riviere JE, Papich MG. Veterinary Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Ch.22 Antiarrhythmic Agents, Table 22.2 - the only retrieved page printing 0.1-0.2 mg/kg PO q12h for cats

· Rupiper DJ. Personal communication. 2004. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.494 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 5.18 (Miscellaneous Agents Used in Birds). — SOURCE ROW: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 5.18 — "Terbutaline 0.1 mg/kg PO q12-24h(789) — Macaws, Amazon parrots/bronchodilator; obstructive pulmonary disease". Reference 789 = "Rupiper DJ. Personal communication. 2004." — an UNPUBLISHED personal communication, which is why this is graded ANECDOTAL. The same table prints 0.01 mg/kg PO, IM q6h for psittacines generally, from a published source.