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PROVIDING
PAIN RELIEF IN REPTILES
First broadcast on www.provet.co.uk
on December 19th 1999
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Reptiles feel pain just like any
other veterinary patient and pain relief should be given when appropriate Reptiles
demonstrate a typical pain response to noxious stimuli just like other
animals, and so control of pain is very important following an injury or
surgical procedure. The
following table shows the analgesic properties of therapeutic agents and
anaesthetics currently in use in reptiles :
Therapeutic Agent |
Dose |
Route |
Comments |
Cold |
- |
- |
Not acceptable. Cold slows reflexes, but does not
provide any analgesia |
Buprenorphine * |
0.01mg/kg |
IM |
Good analgesia. |
Butorphanol * |
0.4-25mg/kg |
IM, IV, SC |
Good analgesia |
Carprophen * |
1-4mg/kg |
IM, IV, SC, PO |
Analgesia lasts 24 hours |
Flunixin meglumine * |
0.1-0.5mg/kg |
IM |
Analgesia lasts 12-24 hours. Maximum use - 3 days |
Gallamine |
0.4-1.0mg/kg (crocodilians) |
IM |
No analgesia |
Ketamine * |
10-100mg/kg |
IM |
Sedative/anaesthetic. No analgesia |
Ketoprofen * |
2mg/kg |
IM, SC |
Analgesia lasts 24 hours |
Meloxicam * |
0.1-0.2mg/kg |
PO |
Analgesia lasts 24 hours |
Opiods (Etorphine) |
0.05-5.0mg/kg (crocodilians) |
IM |
Good analgesia |
Opiods (Etorphine) |
0.5-2.75mg/kg (turtles) |
IM |
Good analgesia |
Pethidine * |
20mg/kg |
IM |
Analgesia last 12-24 hours |
Prednisolone * |
2-5mg/kg |
IM, PO |
Use to manage chronic pain |
Suxamethonium |
0.25-5.0mg/kg (crocodilians and tortoises)
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IM |
No analgesia |
Tiletamine/zolazepam * |
4-5mg/kg |
IM |
Anaesthetic. No analgesia |
* Based upon information presented at the North American Veterinary
Conference (1999) by Martin Lawton of the Exotic Animal Centre, Romford,
Essex, England.
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