Drug | Dose and Route | Comments |
---|---|---|
Morphine | 1–5 mg/kg, IM, SC, every 24 hours 10 mg/kg, IM, SC | Chelonians (red-eared sliders) Lizards (bearded dragons) Not analgesic for snakes. Causes pronounced respiratory depression in turtles. |
Hydromorphone | 0.5 mg/kg, IM, SC | Chelonians: appears to cause less respiratory depression than morphine |
Tramadol | 5–10 mg/kg, PO, every 2–3 days | Chelonians (red-eared sliders); less respiratory depression than morphine |
Meloxicam | 0.1–0.4 mg/kg, IV, IM, SC, every 24–48 hours | |
Ketamine | 10–25 mg/kg, combined with dexmedetomidine 0.05–0.1 mg/kg and hydromorphone 0.5 mg/kg, IM (or 50% dose, IV) | Deep sedation/anesthesia in many chelonians. Reversed using atipamezole (0.5 mg/kg, IM) and, if necessary, naloxone (0.1 mg/kg, IM) |
Midazolam | 1–2 mg/kg, IM | Premedication |
Tiletamine/zolazepam | 3–12 mg/kg, IM | Tortoises, lizards, snakes. Low dose useful to facilitate intubation. Higher doses associated with prolonged recoveries. |
Propofol | 3–10 mg/kg, IV, intraosseous | Low dose rate for larger reptiles. Subanesthetic doses produce variable short-term sedation. |
Alfaxalone | 5–10 mg/kg, IV 10–20 mg/kg, IM | Similar effects to those of propofol IV, but higher doses effective IM. Larger IM dose volumes necessitate dividing into two or more injections. |
Isoflurane | 1%–5% | Routine gaseous agent; subanesthetic levels provide short-term sedation. Mask down or conscious (sedated) intubation possible in some species. |
Sevoflurane | 2%–7% | Very similar effects to those of isoflurane but recoveries appear to be faster. Preferred agent for critical or large reptiles. |