Exotic Animal Formulary5

minor procedures
Xylazine — Infrequently used; variable effects;
potentially reversible with yohimbine;
preanesthetic for ketamine; see
ketamine for combination
0.1-1.25 mg/kg IM,
IV 104
Most species
0.1-1 mg/kg IM 218 Crocodilians/atipamezole better reversal
than yohimbine
1-2 mg/kg IM 220,303 Nile crocodiles
Yohimbine (Yobine,
Lloyd)
— Xylazine reversal; rarely indicated;
atipameazole commonly used to reverse
all α 2 agonists
a
Medetomidine is no longer commercially available although it can be obtained from select
compounding services; dosages are listed here as a guide for possible use with dexmedetomidine, an α 2
agonist that is the active optical enantiomer of racemic compound medetomidine; dexmedetomidine is
generally used at ½ the dose of medetomidine but the same volume due to higher concentration; both
compounds tend to have similar effects.
Table 4-6
Analgesic Agents Used in Reptiles.
Agent Dosage Species/Comments
Bupivacaine
1-2 mg/kg local
q4-12h prn 344
1 mg/kg
intrathecal 240
Most species/local anesthesia; 4 mg/kg maximum dose
Turtles, tortoises/regional analgesia/anesthesia
Buprenorphine 0.2 mg/kg SC 246 No evidence of analgesic efficacy in red-eared slider
turtles or other reptile species
Butorphanol — Recent studies call into question use of particular
doses or of this drug in general in providing
analgesia in reptiles, including red-eared sliders,
ball pythons, corn snakes, bearded dragons, and
green iguanas; respiratory depression is a
common side effect 338,351,353
0.4-1 mg/kg SC,
IM 341
Most species; sedation; preanesthetic; 0.2 mg/kg IM
used experimentally in tortoises 115
1 mg/kg IM 97 Green iguanas/ineffective for analgesia; presence of
observer may affect iguana response
20 mg/kg SC 190 Red-eared slider turtles/ineffective for surgical
analgesia
157