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Drug Dosage (Table 1)

The following drugs provide 15 to 45 minutes of surgical plane of anesthesia. Please contact DLAM for information on regimens for anesthetics of longer duration.

RAT ANESTHESIA
DRUG - DOSAGE/ROUTE

  1. Ketamine (40-80 mg/kg) IP plus Xylazine (5-10 mg/kg) IP

  2. Ketamine (40-80 mg/kg) IP plus ValiumR (5-10 mg/kg) IP

  3. Sodium Pentobarbital (35-45 mg/kg) IP or IV

  4. ChloroPentR (3.0 ml/kg) IP: contains chloral hydrate 42.5 mg/ml plus sodium pentobarbital 8.86 mg/ml plus MgSO4 21.2 mg/ml.

  5. Choloral Hydrate (300 mg/kg) IP: make as dilute as possible given that concentration greater than 2% may cause peritonitis.

MOUSE, GERBIL, HAMSTER ANESTHESIA
DRUG - DOSAGE/ROUTE

  1. Ketamine (60-90 mg/kg) IP plus Xylazine (4-8 mg/kg) IP or acepromazine (1-2 mg/kg IP

  2. Sodium Pentobarbital (60-90 mg/kg) IP: recommended to dilute commercial product 1:1 with sterile saline to provide larger margin of safety.

  3. Avertin (mice) 0.2 ml per 10 gram of body weight of 1.25% solution or 200-300 mg/kg IP. Avertin requires storage in lightproof container under refrigeration

RABBIT ANESTHESIA
DRUG - DOSAGE/ROUTE

  1. Ketamine (44 mg/kg) IM plus Xylazine (5 mg/kg) IM

  2. Ketamine (35 mg/kg) IM plus ValiumR (5-10 mg/kg) IM

  3. Sodium Pentobarbital (35-45 mg/kg) IV: apnea is common.

  4. Fentanyl (0.4 mg/ml) and Droperidol (20 mg/ml) given at 0.3-0.5 ml/kg IM provides anesthesia. Dosage of 0.125 ml/kg IM provides sedation vasodilatation for easy blood collection from central ear artery.

5. Acepromazine 0.25-0.75mg/kg IM - for blood collection from ear

GUINEA PIG ANESTHESIA
DRUG - DOSAGE/ROUTE

  1. Ketamine (35 mg/kg) IP plus Xylazine (5 mg/kg) IP

  2. Sodium Pentobarbital (35-45 mg/kg) IP

NON-HUMAN PRIMATE ANESTHESIA
DRUG - DOSAGE/ROUTE

  1. Sodium Pentobarbital (25 mg/kg) IV calculated dose given to effect, Atropine (0.04 mg/kg) IM or IV prevents bradycardia.

  2. Ketamine (10-15 mg/kg) IM and in combination with Diazepam (ValiumR) 0.25-0.5 mg/kg IM for CHEMICAL RESTRAINT ONLY FOR NONINVASIVE PROCEDURES or FOR INDUCTION

  3. Isoflurane inhalation anesthesia maintained at 3-5%.

CANINE ANESTHESIA
DRUG - DOSAGE/ROUTE

  1. Sodium Pentobarbital (25 mg/kg) IV calculated dose given to effect, Atropine (0.04 mg/kg) IM or IV prevents bradycardia.

  2. Isoflurane inhalation anesthesia maintained at 3-5%.

FELINE ANESTHESIA
DRUG - DOSAGE/ROUTE

  1. Sodium Pentobarbital (25 mg/kg) IV calculated dose given to effect, Atropine (0.04 mg/kg) IM or IV prevents bradycardia.

  2. Ketamine (10 mg/kg) IM for CHEMICAL RESTRAINT ONLY FOR NONINVASIVE PROCEDURES or FOR INDUCTION.

  3. Isoflurane inhalation anesthesia maintained at 3-5%.

SWINE ANESTHESIA
DRUG - DOSAGE/ROUTE

  1. Induction with Ketamine (22 mg/kg) IM plus Acetylpromazine (1.1 mg/kg) IM. Maintenance with Sodium Pentobarbital (20 mg/kg) IV calculated dose given to effect. Atropine (0.04 mg/kg) IV or IM prevents bradycardia.

*If available, gas anesthesia (methoxyflurane, isoflurane, halothane) is more controllable and safer than injectable anesthetics.

RODENT ANALGESIA ...pain in rodents may be identified by observing the animal's reluctance to move about, eat or drink, weight loss, salivation, hunched posture, piloerection, respiratory sounds (chattering in mice) and by vocalization with handling.

DRUG - DOSAGE/ROUTE

  1. Meperidine (10-20 mg/kg) SQ or IM every 2-3 hours

  2. Pentazocine (10 mg/kg) SQ every 6-12 hours

  3. Morphine (10 mg/kg) SQ every 2-3 hours

  4. Flunixin meglumine (BanamineR) 2.5 mg/kg SQ every 12-24 hours

  5. Buprenorphine for mice (BuprenexR) 0.05-0.1 mg/kg SQ every 12 hours
  6. Buprenorphine for rats (BuprenexR) 0.05 mg/kg SQ or IV BID-TID

  7. Acetaminophen (Tylenol Syrup) 1-2 mg/ml in drinking water made fresh daily
  8. Meloxicam (Metacam) 1-2 mg/kg SQ or PO SID-BID

GUINEA PIG AND CHINCHILLAS..pain in guinea pigs and chincillas may be identified by observing the animal's reluctance to move, vocalization with handling, decreased food and water intake and postural adnormalities.

  1. Buprenorphine (BuprenexR) 0.1-0.5 mg/kg SQ every 8-12 hours

  2. Meperidine (DemoralR)10-20 mg/kg SQ or IM every 2-3 hours

  3. Morphine 2-5 mg/kg SQ or IM every 4 hours

  4. Flunixin (BanamineR) 2.5 - 5.0 mg/kg SQ every 12-24 hours. Five day maximum for treatment.

FERRET ANALGESIA..pain in ferrets may be idenitified by observing the animal's reluctance to move, spontaneous vocalization or vocalization upon handling, reluctance to eat and drink, avoidance behavior, depression, postural abnormalities, increased respiratory rate and abnormal pattern.

  1. Buprenorphine (BurprenexR) 0.01 - 0.03 mg/kg SQ, IM or IV every 8-12 hours

  2. Butorphanol (TorbugesicR) 0.1 - 0.5 mg/kg IM every 12 hours

  3. Flunixin (BanamineR) 0.5 - 2.0 mg/kg SQ, IV every 12-24 hours

  4. Meperidine (DemerolR) 5-10 mg/kg SQ, IM, IV every 2-4 hours.

RABBIT ANALGESIA...pain in rabbits may be identified by observing the animal's reluctance to move about, eat or drink, postural abnormalities, increased respiratory rate and/or abnormal pattern and by vocalization with handling.

  1. Buprenorphine (BuprenexR) 0.01-0.05 mg/kg SQ every 6-12 hours

  2. Butorphanol (TorbugesicR) 0.1-0.5 mg/kg SQ, IV, IM every 2-4 hours

  3. Flunixin (BanamineR)1-2 mg/kg SQ every 12-24 hours
  4. Meloxicam (Metacam) 0.2 mg/kg SQ or 0.3 mg/kg PO SID

NONHUMAN PRIMATE ANALGESIA..pain in nonhuman primates may be identified by depression, guarding of painful part, avoidance behavior, spontaneous vocalization or vocalization upon handling, teeth grinding, lying down and getting up repeatedly, abnormal posture, increased respiratory rate and abnormal pattern, reluctance to move or inappetence.

. DRUG - DOSAGE/ROUTE

  1. Tylenol Pediatric SuspensionR (10 mg/kg) orally every 6-12 hours

  2. Buprenorphine (BuprenexR) 0.01-0.04 mg/kg SQ every 6-12 hours

  3. Butorphanol (TorbugesicR) 0.1-0.2 mg/kg IM every 12-48 hours

  4. Meperdine (DemerolR) 2-4 mg/kg IM every 8-12 hours

  5. Flunixin meglumine (BanamineR) 1.1 mg/kg IV or IM every 24 hours or 0.3-1.0 mg/kg SQ, IV every 12-24 hours. Five days maximum treatment
  6. Meloxicam (Metacam) 0.1-0.2 mg/kg PO or SQ SID Max 3 days

CANINE ANALGESIA..pain in dogs may be identified by depression, guarding of painful part, spontaneous vocalization upon handling, avoidance behavior, recumbency, inappetence, muscle tremors, attraction to painful area (licking, biting, scratching), and abnormal posture.

DRUG - DOSAGE/ROUTE

  1. Meperidine (DemerolR) 2-10 mg/kg IM or SQ every 2-3 hours

  2. Buprenorphine (BuprenexR) 0.01-0.04 mg/kg SQ every 8-12 hours

  3. Flunixin meglumine (BanamineR) 1 mg/kg IV or IM every 24 hours. Five day maximum treatment

  4. Butorphanol (TorbugesicR) 0.2-0.4 mg/kg SQ or IM or IV every 2-5 hours
  5. Meloxicam (Metacam) 0.2 mg/kg PO, IV, SQ on Day 1; then 0.1 mg/kg SID subsequent days

SWINE ANALGESIA..pain in pigs may be identified by depression, recumbency, vocalization when painful area is manipulated or spontaneous vocalization (eg. grunting), abnormal posture, inappetence, increased respiratory rate and abnormal pattern, lying down and getting up repeatedly and avoidance behavior.

DRUG - DOSAGE/ROUTE

  1. Meperidine (2-10 mg/kg) IM or SQ every 2-4 hours

  2. Buprenorphine (BuprenexR) 0.005-0.01 mg/kg SQ or IM every 6-12 hours

  3. Flunixin meglumine (BanamineR) 0.5-1.0 mg/kg, SQ, IV every 12-24 hours. Five day maximum treatment

  4. Butorphanol (TorbugesicR) 0.1-0.3 mg/kg IM or IV every 8-12 hours.

SHEEP/GOATS..pain in sheep and goats may be identified by depression, recumbency, vocalization when painful area is manipulated or spontaneous vocalization, abnormal posture, inappetence, increase respiratory rate and/or abnormal pattern, lying down and getting up repeatedly (especially in ruminants) and avoidance behavior.

  1. Buprenorphine (BuprenexR) 0.005 - 0.015 mg/kg SQ or IM every 4-12 hours

  2. Butorphanol (TorbugesicR) 0.2 - 0.5 mg/kg SQ or IM every 4 hours

  3. Meperidine (DemerolR) 2-10 mg/kg SQ or IM every 4 hours, up to 200mg total dose

FELINE ANALGESIA..pain in cats may be identified by depression, guarding of painful part, spontaneous vocalization or vocalization upon handling, avoidance behavior, loss of appetite, reluctance to move, abnormal posture, muscle tremors, and attraction to area of pain (licking, biting, scratching).

DRUG - DOSAGE/ROUTE

  1. Morphine (0.1 mg/kg) SQ every 4-6 hours

  2. Buprenorphine (Buprenex) 0.004-0.01 mg/kg SQ every 8-12 hours

  3. Butorphanol (Torbugesic) 0.1-0.4 mg/kg SQ every 6 hours
  4. Meloxicam (Metacam) 0.2 mg/kg PO, IV, SQ on Day 1; then 0.1 mg/kg SID subsequent days

update 11/28/07

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