Drugs Commonly Used to Treat Sugar Gliders^a

Antimicrobials

Amoxicillin (1, 2, 3)

30 mg/kg, PO or SC, q 12–24 h

For dermatitis

Amoxicillin–clavulanic acid (1, 2 3)

12.5 mg/kg, PO, q 12 h

Broad-spectrum against anaerobes and aerobes

Chloramphenicol (1, 2)

50 mg/kg, PO, q 12 h

Can rarely cause bone marrow suppression in humans

Clindamycin (1, 4)

5.5–10 mg/kg, PO, q 12 h

For periodontal disease

Enrofloxacin (1, 3, 4, 5)

2.5–5 mg/kg, PO, SC, or IM, q 12–24 h (1, 3, 4, 5)

10 mg/kg, PO, q 24 h (4)

Potential tissue necrosis when injected

Marbofloxacin (1, 6)

2–5 mg/kg, PO, SC, or IM, q 24 h

Metronidazole (1, 3)

25 mg/kg, PO, q 12–24 h for 7–10 days

Possible CNS toxicosis at high doses or if underlying hepatic disease; use benzoate form

Penicillin procaine (2, 3)

22,000–25,000 IU/kg, SC or IM, q 12–24 h

Trimethoprim-sulfonamide (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8)

10–20 mg/kg, PO, q 12–24 h

Antiparasitics

Carbaryl 5% powder (2, 3)

Topically or in cage, sparingly

Use small amounts to treat ectoparasites

Fenbendazole (1, 2, 3, 4, 9)

20–50 mg/kg, PO, q 24 h for 3 days

For roundworms, hookworms, whipworms, tapeworms, lower dose preferable

Imidacloprid (9, 10)

10 mg/kg, topically, q 30 days

Fleas

Ivermectin (1, 2, 3, 9)

0.2 mg/kg, PO or SC, once; repeat in 7–14 days for up to 3 treatments

For roundworms, hookworms, whipworms, nematodes, mites

Metronidazole (1, 2, 11, 12, 13)

25 mg/kg, PO, q 12–24 h

For intestinal protozoa; possible CNS toxicosis at high doses or if underlying hepatic disease; use benzoate form

Piperazine (1, 12)

50–100 mg/kg, PO, q 24 h

For nematodes

Praziquantel (5, 14)

5–10 mg/kg, PO or SC, once; repeat in 10–14 days

For cestodes, trematodes

Pyrethrin powder (12)

Topically, as needed

For ectoparasites; use products formulated for kittens

Selamectin (1, 2, 11, 15, 16)

6–18 mg/kg, topically, once; repeat in 30 days

For ectoparasites; not effective against Demodex

Antifungals

Itraconazole (1, 2, 3)

5–10 mg/kg, PO, q 12–24 h

For dermatophytes

Nystatin (3, 4, 9, 11)

2,000–10,000 IU/kg, PO, q 8 h for 3 days

For Candida

Analgesics

Buprenorphine (2, 3, 4, 8, 17)

0.005–0.05 mg/kg, PO, SC, or IM, q 8–12 h

Butorphanol (1, 2, 3, 4)

0.1–0.5 mg/kg, SC or IM, q 6–8 h

Possible sedation at higher doses

Gabapentin (18, 19)

3–5 mg/kg, PO, q 8–24 h

For neurotropic pain and anxiety; possible sedation at higher doses

Tramadol (4, 17, 20)

2–10 mg/kg, PO or IM, q 12 h

Anti-inflammatories

Meloxicam (1, 2, 3, 7, 8, 12, 17)

0.1–0.2 mg/kg, PO or SC, q 24 h

0.5 mg/kg, PO, q 24 h (17)

NSAID

Prednisolone (1, 2, 3, 21)

0.1–0.2 mg/kg, PO, SC, or IM, q 24 h

Corticosteroid

Preanesthetics

Atropine (1, 2, 12)

0.01–0.04 mg/kg, IM, SC, or IV

To lessen intraoperative secretions, prevent and correct bradycardia

Glycopyrrolate (1, 2)

0.01–0.02 mg/kg, IM, SC, or IV

To lessen intraoperative secretions, prevent and correct bradycardia

Anesthetics

Bupivacaine (2, 22)

1–2 mg/kg, local infiltration

Local anesthesia

Buprenorphine (Bu) + midazolam (Mi) + meloxicam (Me) (5)

0.01 mg/kg Bu + 0.1 mg/kg Mi + 0.2 mg/kg Me, IM

Butorphanol (9)

0.4–1 mg/kg, SC or IM

Diazepam (1, 2, 12)

0.5-2 mg/kg, PO, SC, IM, or IV

Sedative, anticonvulsant

Isoflurane (1, 5, 23)

1–5%, via face mask or intubation

Ketamine (2, 3)

20–50 mg/kg, IM

Ketamine + midazolam (2, 3)

10–20 mg/kg + 0.35–0.5 mg/kg, SC or IM

Administer ketamine 10 min after midazolam

Lidocaine (22, 23)

As a 2% injection, ≤ 0.2 mL/kg (< 4 mg/kg), local infiltration

Local anesthesia

Midazolam (1, 2, 3, 5, 24)

0.1–0.5 mg/kg, SC, IM, IV, or intranasal

Sedative, anxiolytic, anticonvulsant; preferred over diazepam for injection

Sevoflurane (3)

1–5%, via face mask or intubation

Possible toxicosis; use cautiously

Anesthetic Reversal Drugs

Flumazenil (18, 25)

0.02–0.1 mg/kg, SC or IM

For reversal of diazepam and midazolam

Cardiac Drugs

Enalapril (1, 2, 26)

0.5 mg/kg, PO, q 24 h

ACE inhibitor

Furosemide (1, 12, 26, 27)

1–5 mg/kg, PO, SC or IM, q 6–12 h

Diuretic

Pimobendan (1)

0.3-0.5 mg/kg, PO, q 12 h

Positive inotrope and vasodilator

GI Drugs

Cisapride (1, 3, 4, 27)

0.1–0.25 mg/kg, PO or SC, q 8–24 h

GI motility enhancer

Maropitant citrate (2)

0.2 mg/kg, SC, q 24 h

Metoclopramide (1, 3, 4, 9, 28)

0.05–0.1 mg/kg, PO, SC, or IM, q 6–12 h

GI motility enhancer

Hormones

Calcitonin (3)

50–100 IU/kg, SC or IM, q 7 d

Aid to calcium mobilization; calcium levels should be normal before use

Vitamins and Minerals

Calcium glubionate (1, 3, 27)

150 mg/kg, PO, q 24 h

Calcium supplement

Calcium gluconate (1, 27, 29)

100 mg/kg, SC, q 12 h for 3–5 days

Calcium supplement; dilute to 10 mg/mL solution in saline

Vitamin A (1, 3)

500–5,000 IU/kg, IM, once (3)

50–500 IU/kg IM (1)

For dermatitis

Vitamin B complex (1, 2, 3)

0.01–0.2 mL/kg, SC or IM

Inject into SC fluids to decrease pain (stings on injection)

Vitamin E (1, 3, 11)

25–100 IU/glider, SC, q 24 h

Vitamin K (1, 2, 3, 4, 9)

2 mg/kg, PO or SC, q 24–72 h (1, 2, 3)

2.5 mg/kg, SC, once; then 5 mg/kg, PO, q 24 h for 14 days (4, 9)

For intestinal and liver disease

Treatment for anticoagulant rodenticide poisoning

Other

Dextrose (20%) (9)

2–5 mL/kg, IV, slow

For hypoglycemia

Doxapram (1, 2)

2 mg/kg, SC, IM, IV, or sublingual

Respiratory stimulant