TABLE 14-3.
Analgesics Commonly Used for Captive Rabbits
| Agents | Dose (mg/kg) | Route | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| Buprenorphine | 0.01-0.05 | IV, SC | Analgesia for 6-12 h; for acute soft tissue, GI, and urogenital pain |
| Oxymorphone | 0.05-0.2 | IM, SC | q8-12h |
| Butorphanol | 0.1-0.5 | IM, SC, IV | Analgesia lasts 2-4 h; can be used with acepromazine to deliver sedation |
| Fentanyl | 0.2-0.3 | IM | |
| Carprofen | 2-4 | SC | q24h |
| 1.5 | PO | q12h | |
| Meloxicam | 0.2 | IM, SC | q12h |
| 0.3 | PO | ||
| Flunixin meglumine | 1-2 | IM, SC | q12h |
| Ketoprofen | 3 | IM, SC | q12h |
IM, intramuscular; IV, intravenous; PO, per os; SC, subcutaneous.
From Harcourt-Brown F: Textbook of Rabbit Medicine, London, 2002, Elsevier; Heard DJ: Anesthesia, analgesia, and sedation of small mammals. In Queensberry KE, Carpenter JW, editors: Ferrets, Rabbits and Rodents: Clinical Medicine and Surgery, St Louis, 2004, WB Saunders; Paul-Murphy J, Ramer JC: Urgent care of the pet rabbit, Vet Clin North Am Exot Anim Pract 1(1):125-152, 1998.