Analgesics drugs for use in rabbits

Name of analgesic

Dosage

Way

Frequency

Remark

Aspirin

10 - 100 mg/kg

(up to 400 mg/kg)

sid-tid

Aspirin is a blood thinner and *must* therefore be avoided in case there are internal bleedings or when
surgery is planned

Carprofen

1.5 mg/kg

1 - 2 mg/kg

SC, IV

sid

Flunixin

1.1 mg/kg

SC, IM

bid, sid

Injection should be made deep into the muscle mass, to avoid irritation.

The efficacy of flunixin in rabbits is sometimes questioned

Ibuprofen

2 - 10 mg/kg

sid - tid

Can cause gastric irritation, or ulceration

Ketoprofen

3 mg/kg

bid, sid

Known to interact with aspirin or
diuretic agents

Indomethacin

12.5 mg/kg BW

Medetomidine

0.1-0.5 mg/kg

0.3-0.5 mg/kg

0.25 mg/kg

IM, SC

Meloxicam

0.1 - 0.2 mg/kg

rarely up to 0.5 mg/kg

sid ?

Action lasts between 12-24 h.

Very palatable for rabbits

Piroxicam

0.3 mg/kg

qod

Buprenorphine	0.01 - 0.05 mg/kg	SC, IV	qid, bid	Respiratory depression may be observed Can be used to reverse the effect of m-opioids, e.g. fentanyl and treat post-surgical pain
Butorphanol	0.1 - 0.5 mg/kg	SC, IV	q 2-4	Quick turn-over in rabbits: 3.16 h. after SC injection, 1.64 h. after IV injection Can be used to reverse the effect of m-opioids, e.g. fentanyl and treat post-surgical pain
Hydromorphone	0.1 - 0.2 mg/kg	IV	q 4-6	Relieves moderate to severe pain
Meperidine (Pethidine)	5 - 10 mg/kg	SC, IM	q 2-3	Can be used as an pre-anesthetic
Morphine	5 mg/kg 2-5 mg/kg	SC, IM SC, IM	q 2-4 q 2-4
Nalbuphine	1 – 2 mg/kg	SC, IM	q 4	Can be used to reverse the effect of m-opioids, e.g. fentanyl and treat post-surgical pain
Oxymorphone	0.05 – 0.2 mg/kg	SC, IM	q 8-12	Respiratory depression and bradycardia are reported Can be used as an pre-anesthetic
Pentazocine	5 – 10 mg/kg	SC, IM	q 5-10	Can be used to reverse the effect of m-opioids, e.g. fentanyl and treat post-surgical pain
Tramadol hydrochloride	2 - 4 mg/kg	PO	bid	Used to treat moderate to severe pain in rabbits Use of higher doses (e.g. 10 mg/kg) has too strong effects in rabbits

to understand the meaning of the abbreviations, click here.

Further information

Dana G. Allen, J. K Pringle, Dale A. Smith, Handbook of Veterinary Drugs. Lippincott – Raven 1998.

Elizabeth V. Hillyer and Katherine E. Quesenberry, Ferrets, Rabbits, and Rodents: Clinical Medicine and Surgery. New York: WB Saunders Co. 1997.

Frances Harcourt-Brown, Rabbit Medicine and Surgery. Butterworth-Heinemann 2001.

Kathy Laber-Laird, Paul Flecknell and M. Michael Swindle, Handbook of Rodent and Rabbit Medicine. Oxford, UK: Pergamon Press 1996.

John E. Harkness and Joseph E. Wagner, The Biology and Medicine of Rabbits and Rodents. New York: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins 1995.

Paul Flecknell, BSAVA Manual of Rabbit Medicine and Surgery. British Small Animal Veterinary Association 2000.Virginia Richardson, Rabbits: Health, Husbandry and Disease, Blackwell Science Inc 2000.

H. Schall, Kaninchen, In: Krankheiten der Heimtiere (K Gabrisch & P Zwart, eds), Schlütersche & Co, Hannover (D); pp 1-45, 1998

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14 SEPTEMBRE 2004

last updated: June 2006