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Opioid Analgesics Commonly Used in Animals


Opioid analgesic doses in Small Lab Animals


Drug Mouse Rat Guinea Pig Rabbit Ferret
Buprenorphine 0.05-0.1 mg/Kg sc q12hrs 0.05-0.1 mg/Kg sc q12hrs, or
0.1-0.25 mg/Kg po q12hrs
0.05 mg/Kg sc q 12hrs 0.05-0.1 mg/Kg sc q12hrs 0.01-0.03 mg/Kg iv,im,sc q12hrs
Butorphanol 1-5 mg/Kg sc q12hrs 2 mg/Kg q 4hrs   0.1-0.5 mg/Kg iv q4hrs 0.4 mg/Kg im q 6-8hrs
Methadone 5 mg/Kg q12hr 1.3 mg/Kg q12hr 3-6 mg/Kg q12hr 5 mg/Kg q12hr  



Opioid analgesic doses in Large Lab Animals


Drug Pig Sheep Primate Dog Cat
Buprenorphine 0.005-0.02 mg/Kg im,iv q6-12hrs 0.005-0.01 mg/Kg im,iv q4hrs 0.005-0.01 mg/Kg im,iv q6-12hrs 0.005-0.02 mg/Kg im,iv,sc q6-12hrs 0.005-0.01 mg/Kg iv,sc q8-12hrs
Butorphanol     0.01 mg/Kg q4hrs 0.2-0.4 mg/Kg im,sc q4hrs 0.4 mg/Kg sc q4hrs
Methadone 0.3 mg/Kg   0.1-1.0 mg/Kg im,sc,po q8-12hrs 0.25mg/Kg sc q12hr 0.1mg/Kg sc q12hr



Abbreviations:

  • po - per os (orally)
  • sc - subcutaneous injection
  • im - intramuscular injection
  • q - every
  • q12hr - every 12 hours

Some of this data is European. Not every drug is available in every dosage format in the US.