Reptile · Trachemys scripta elegans · typical adult weight 0.20–2.20 kg
Tramadol is dosed at 5–10 mg/kg PO See source in red-eared sliders, per Baker BB, Sladky KK, Johnson SM. Evaluation of the analgesic effects of oral and subcutaneous tramadol administration in red-eared slider turtles. J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2011 Jan 15;238(2):220-227. PMID: 21235376; DOI: 10.2460/javma.238.2.220; PMCID: PMC3158493. URL: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3158493/. Tramadol is used in red-eared sliders for analgesia (thermal antinociception), analgesia (thermal antinociception; effective doses tested), Analgesia (thermal antinociception) - recommended dose, Analgesia (thermal antinociception) - oral doses evaluated in study. Routes documented in red-eared sliders: PO, SC. A typical adult red-eared slider weighs 0.20–2.20 kg. ExoticRx lists 5 cited dose rules for Tramadol in red-eared sliders, drawn from published veterinary references. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
| Route | Dose | Frequency | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PO | 5–10 mg/kg | See source | analgesia (thermal antinociception) | Weak | Baker BB, Sladky KK, Johnson SM. Evaluation of the analgesic effects of oral and subcutaneous tramadol administration in red-eared slider turtles. J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2011 Jan 15;238(2):220-227. PMID: 21235376; DOI: 10.2460/javma.238.2.220; PMCID: PMC3158493. URL: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3158493/ |
| PO | 5–25 mg/kg | See source | analgesia (thermal antinociception; effective doses tested) | Weak | Baker BB, Sladky KK, Johnson SM. Evaluation of the analgesic effects of oral and subcutaneous tramadol administration in red-eared slider turtles. J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2011 Jan 15;238(2):220-227. PMID: 21235376; DOI: 10.2460/javma.238.2.220; PMCID: PMC3158493. URL: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3158493/ |
| PO | 5–10 mg/kg | See source | Analgesia (thermal antinociception) - recommended dose | Weak | Baker BB, Sladky KK, Johnson SM. Evaluation of the analgesic effects of oral and subcutaneous tramadol administration in red-eared slider turtles. J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2011 Jan 15;238(2):220-227. doi:10.2460/javma.238.2.220. PMID: 21235376; PMCID: PMC3158493. URL: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3158493/ |
| PO | 1–25 mg/kg | See source | Analgesia (thermal antinociception) - oral doses evaluated in study | Weak | Baker BB, Sladky KK, Johnson SM. Evaluation of the analgesic effects of oral and subcutaneous tramadol administration in red-eared slider turtles. J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2011 Jan 15;238(2):220-227. doi:10.2460/javma.238.2.220. PMID: 21235376; PMCID: PMC3158493. URL: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3158493/ |
| SC | 10–25 mg/kg | See source | analgesia (thermal antinociception) | Weak | Baker BB, Sladky KK, Johnson SM. Evaluation of the analgesic effects of oral and subcutaneous tramadol administration in red-eared slider turtles. J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2011 Jan 15;238(2):220-227. PMID: 21235376; DOI: 10.2460/javma.238.2.220; PMCID: PMC3158493. URL: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3158493/ |
Need the exact dose for your patient?
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.
Weak mu-opioid receptor agonist plus norepinephrine and serotonin reuptake inhibition. Dual mechanism of analgesia.
Dogs metabolize to O-desmethyltramadol poorly compared to humans (reduced opioid effect). May cause sedation, dysphoria. Serotonin syndrome risk with concurrent SSRIs. Cats may respond better than dogs.
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.
Tramadol dose ranges in red-eared sliders, with cited source references: PO 5–10 mg/kg See source; PO 5–25 mg/kg See source; PO 5–10 mg/kg See source; PO 1–25 mg/kg See source.
Documented routes for Tramadol in red-eared sliders: PO, SC.
Tramadol is indicated in red-eared sliders for: analgesia (thermal antinociception), analgesia (thermal antinociception; effective doses tested), Analgesia (thermal antinociception) - recommended dose, Analgesia (thermal antinociception) - oral doses evaluated in study.
These are general warnings for Tramadol across species; consult the red-eared slider dosing table above for species-specific guidance. Dogs metabolize to O-desmethyltramadol poorly compared to humans (reduced opioid effect). May cause sedation, dysphoria. Serotonin syndrome risk with concurrent SSRIs. Cats may respond better than dogs.
Why a species-specific page? Tramadol 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.