Exotic Animal Formulary5

50-150 mg/kg SC, IM 59 Most species
recovery times; does not provide
good analgesia so may not be
suited for major surgical
procedures; other agents preferred;
ketamine combination follows; see
lidocaine
Ketamine (K)/diazepam
(D)
(K) 20-40 mg/kg+(D) 0.2-
0.4 mg/kg IM 59 Variable results
Lidocaine 1%-2% Local infiltration 59 All/local anesthesia; with or without
epinephrine; 2% lidocaine in
combination with ketamine has
been used for minor surgeries; 59
use with caution
Meloxicam 0.1 mg/kg 37 American bullfrogs/decreased
circulating prostaglandin E2
(PGE2) levels measured 24 hr post
muscle biopsy 37
0.4-1 mg/kg PO, SC, ICe
q24h 59
Analgesia
Metomidate
hydrochloride
30 mg/L bath 13 Rana pipiens/immersion for 60 min
then transferred to amphibian
Ringer’s solution; clinical sedation
in 11/11 frogs; surgical anesthesia
in 3/11; prolonged recovery; not
recommended as sole anesthetic
agent
Morphine 38-42 mg/kg SC 31 Analgesia >4 hr
Nalorphine 122 mg/kg SC 31 Analgesia >4 hr
Naloxone
Naltrexone
10 mg/kg SC; 31 titrate to
effect
1 mg/kg SC; 31 titrate to
effect
Antagonist for buprenorphine,
butorphanol, codeine, fentanyl,
morphine
Antagonist for buprenorphine,
butorphanol, codeine, fentanyl,
morphine
Pentobarbital sodium 60 mg/kg IV, ICe 59 Euthanasia; can also be administered
in lymph sacs in anurans
Pentobarbital
sodium+sodium
phenytoin
1100 mg/kg+141 mg/kg
ICe 51
African clawed frogs/complete cardiac
arrest within 3 hr
Propofol 10-30 mg/kg ICe 59 White’s tree frogs/pilot study; use the
lower dosage for sedation or light
103