RECOMMENDED ANESTHESIA AND ANALGESIC AGENTS*
*These are general recommendations only and are not tailored regimens for any specific
procedure, please seek DAR Veterinary guidance for modifications, other species or drugs
than what is listed here.
Mice and Rats
Anesthesia:
Mouse:
Ketamine+Xylazine
80-100 mg/kg, 5-10
mg/kg
IP
Once
Rat: Ketamine +
Xylazine
80-90 mg/kg, 5-10
mg/kg
IP
Once
Isoflurane
1-4%
inhalant
Continuous via nose
cone
Sevoflurane
1-4 %
inhalant
Continuous via nose
cone
Bupivicaine (0.5%)
1 ml/kg
Infiltration
For local anesthesia
Proparacaine
1 -2 drops
Topical Ophthalmic
Once for ophthalmic
use
Buprenorphine
0.02-0.05 mg/kg
SC
Every 6-12 hours for
at least 48 hours postop
Meloxicam
1-2 mg/kg
PO
Once a day
Proparacaine
1 drop
Topical Ophthalmic
Once
Analgesia:
1
Ketoprofen
5mg/kg
SC
Once a day
AGENT
DOSAGE
ROUTE
FREQUENCY OF
ADMINISTRATION
Ketamine+Xylazine
35-50 mg/kg, 5-10
mg/kg
IM
Once
Acepromazine
0.75-1.0 mg/kg
SC
Once
Isoflurane
1-4 %
inhalant
Continuous via
endotracheal
intubation
Sevoflurane
1-4 %
inhalant
Continuous via
endotracheal
intubation
Bupivicaine (0.5%)
1 ml/kg
Infiltration
For local anesthesia
Proparacaine
1 -2 drops
Topical Ophthalmic
Once for ophthalmic
use
Buprenorphine
0.01-0.05 mg/kg
SC
Every 12 hours for at
least 48 hours postop
Meloxicam
0.1-0.3 mg/kg
PO
Once a day
Rabbit
Anesthesia:
Analgesia:
Guinea Pig
Anesthesia:
2
Ketamine+Xylazine
20-40 mg/kg + 2
mg/kg
IM, IP
Once
Isoflurane
1-4%
inhalant
Continuous via nose
cone
Sevoflurane
1-4 %
inhalant
Continuous via nose
cone
Bupivicaine (0.5%)
1 ml/kg
Infiltration
For local anesthesia
Proparacaine
1 -2 drops
Topical Ophthalmic
Once for ophthalmic
use
Buprenorphine
0.05 -0.1mg/kg
SC
Every 8-12 hours for
at least 48 hours postop
Meloxicam
0.5-0.mg/kg
PO
Once a day
Ketamine+Xylazine
80mg/kg + 5 mg/kg
IM, IP
Once
Isoflurane
1-4%
inhalant
Continuous via nose
cone
Sevoflurane
1-4 %
inhalant
Continuous via nose
cone
Bupivicaine (0.5%)
1 ml/kg
Infiltration
For local anesthesia
Proparacaine
1 -2 drops
Topical Ophthalmic
Once for ophthalmic
Analgesia:
Hamsters
Anesthesia:
3
use
Analgesia:
Buprenorphine
0.05 -0.5mg/kg
SC
Every 8 hours for at
least 48 hours postop
Meloxicam
0.5-0. mg/kg
PO
Once a day
Ketamine+Xylazine
50mg/kg + 2 mg/kg
IM, IP
Once
Isoflurane
1-4%
inhalant
Continuous via nose
cone
Sevoflurane
1-4 %
inhalant
Continuous via nose
cone
Bupivicaine (0.5%)
1 ml/kg
Infiltration
For local anesthesia
Proparacaine
1 -2 drops
Topical Ophthalmic
Once for ophthalmic
use
Buprenorphine
0.1 -0.2mg/kg
SC
Every 8 hours for at
least 48 hours postop
Meloxicam
0.5-0.mg/kg
PO
Once a day
Gerbils
Anesthesia:
Analgesia:
4
Non-Human Primates- Macaca sp.
Anesthesia:
Ketamine
5-20mg/kg
IM
Once
Ketamine/Medetomidine
3.0 mg/kg, 0.15
mg/kg
IM
Once
KetamineDiazepam
5-10mg/kg,.35mg/kg
IM
Once
Isoflurane
1-2% on 100%
Oxygen
Inhalant
Continuous via
endotracheal
intubation
Thiopental
5-7 mg/kg
IV
To effect for
induction
Sevoflurane
2-4% on 100%
Oxygen
Inhalant
Continuous via
endotracheal
intubation
Propofol
2.5-5.0 mg/kg
IV
Bolus then infusion
at 0.3-0.4 mg/kg/min
Telazol
1.5-3.0 mg/kg
IM
Induction
Analgesia:
Buprenorphine
0.01 -0.02mg/kg
IM, SQ
Every 12 hours for at
least 48 hours postop
Ibuprofen
7 mg/kg
PO
Once a day
Meloxicam
0.2 mg/kg
PO
Once a day
Swine
5
Anesthesia:
Telazol/Xylazine
2.2 – 4.4 mg/kg
IM
For induction
Thiopental
5 – 20 mg/kg
IV
For induction
Isoflurane
1- 4 %
inhalation
Continuous via
endotracheal
intubation
Sevoflurane
1-4 %
inhalation
Continuous via
endotracheal
intubation
Bupivacaine (.5%)
1ml/kg
infiltration
For local anesthesia
Proparacaine
1-2 drops
ophthalmic
For ophthalmic use
Buprenorphine
0.005 -0.02 mg/kg
IM
Every 8- 12 hrs
Carprofen
2 – 4 mg/kg
PO
Every 12 hrs
Acepromazine
0.05-0.1 mg/kg
SC, IM, IV
Once
Propofol
2.5 – 5 mg/kg
IV
Bolus then infusion at
0.3-0.4 mg/kg/min
Thiopental
5 –20 mg/kg
IV
To effect
Ketamine /diazepam
5-10mg/.25-.5mg/kg
IV
To effect
Isoflurane
1-4%
inhalation
Continuous via
endotracheal
Analgesia:
Canine
Anesthesia:
6
intubation
Sevoflurane
1-4%
Inhalation
Continuous via
endotracheal
intubation
Bupivacaine
(.5%) 1ml/kg
infiltration
For local anesthesia
Proparacaine
1-2 drops
ocular/ophthalmic
For ophthalmic use
Buprenorphine
.01-.02 mg/kg
SC
Every 8-12 hrs
Carprofen
2mg/kg
PO
Every 12 hrs
Analgesia:
Cat
Anesthesia:
Propofol
2.5 – 5 mg/kg
IV
Bolus then infusion
at 0.3-0.4
mg/kg/min
Ketamine/Ace/Butorphanol
(KAB)
50 mg/kg, 0.2
mg/kg, 0.05
mg/kg
IM
Sedation/induction
Telazol
5-7.5 or
IV or
10-15 mg/kg
IM
Induction and
sedation
Isoflurane
1-4%
inhalation
Continuous via
endotracheal
intubation
Sevoflurane
1-4%
Inhalation
Continuous via
endotracheal
7
intubation
Bupivacaine
(.5%) 1ml/kg
infiltration
For local anesthesia
Proparacaine
1-2 drops
ocular/ophthalmic
For ophthalmic use
Analgesia:
Buprenorphine
.01-.02 mg/kg
SC
Every 8-12 hrs
Ketoprofen
1 mg/kg
PO
Every 24 hours
Meloxicam
0.1-0.2 mg/kg
IM
Every 24-48 hours
Midazolam
2-6 mg/kg
IM
For light sedation
Telazol
5-10 mg/kg
IM
For induction
Propofol
1.3-14 mg/kg
IV
For induction
Isoflurane
1.5-5 %
inhalation
Continuous via
intubation or mask
Ketamine/Xylazine
10-50 mg/kg and 1-10
mg/kg
IM
Sedation
Avian species
Anesthesia:
Ketamine/Midazolam
10-40 mg/kg (<250 g
birds)
8
Analgesia:
Buprenorphine
0.01-0.03 mg/kg
SC,IM, IV
Every 8- 12hrs
Carprofen
1 mg/kg
PO
Every 24 hours
Ketoprofen
1mg/kg
PO
Every 24 hours
Propofol
5-15 mg/kg
IV, IO
For induction
Isoflurane
1-3 %
Inhalation
Continuous via
endotracheal
intubation or mask
Buprenorphine
0.005-0.02 mg/kg
IM
Every 24-48 hours
Carprofen
1-4 mg/kg
PO, SC, IM, IV
Every 24 hours
Reptiles
Anesthesia:
Analgesia:
Then ½ dose every
24-72 hours
Ketoprofen
2 mg/kg
SC, IM
Every 24 hours
Meloxicam
0.1-0.2 mg/kg
IM
Every 24-48 hours
Immersion
Induction
Fish
Anesthesia:
Buffered MS-222***
(Tricaine
50-100 mg/L
9
Methanesulfonate)
50-60 mg/L
Maintenance
Amphibians
Anesthesia:
Buffered MS-222***
200-500 mg/L (larval,
aquatic)
Immersion
Induction and
anesthesia
9.5 mg/kg
IC
For sedation
30 mg/kg
IC
For Anesthesia
1-3 g/L (toads)
500 mg L-2 g/L
(Salamanders, Frogs)
Propofol
Ketamine
50-150 mg/kg
SC, IM, IV
Induction
Isoflurane
3-5% (terrestrial)
Inhalant
Induction
1-2%
Maintenance
Bubbled into water
until effect (aquatic)
Analgesia:
Morphine
38-42 mg/kg
SC
Naked Mole Rats
Anesthesia:
10
Every 4 hours
Isoflurane
1-4 %
inhalation
Continuous via mask
down or intubation
Ketamine/xylazine
50 mg/kg and 3mg/kg
IP
For sedation
1mg/kg
PO
Every 24 hours
Acepromazine
0.1-0.25 mg/kg
SC/IM
For light sedation
Thiopental
8-12 mg/kg
IV
For induction
Propofol
2-5 mg/kg
IV
For induction
Isoflurane
1-4 %
inhalation
Continuous via
endotracheal
intubation or mask
Ketamine
20-35 mg/kg
IM
For sedation only
Analgesia:
Ketoprofen
Ferrets
Anesthesia:
Analgesia:
Buprenorphine
0.01-0.03 mg/kg
SC,IM, IV
Every 8- 12hrs
Carprofen
1 mg/kg
PO
Every 24 hours
Ketoprofen
1mg/kg
PO
Every 24 hours
Meloxicam
0.2 mg/kg
SC
Every 24 hours
11
* PO- Oral
IM- Intramuscular
IV- Intravenous
SQ- Subcutaneous
IP- Intraperitoneal
IC-Intracoelomic
IO-Intraosseous
** Frequency = time interval between doses.
***Tricaine Methanesulfonate, also known as MS-222 must be buffered with Sodium
Bicarbonate to a pH of 7-7.5 and stored in an airtight container at room temperature. Water
must not be buffered before adding the anesthetic solution. A popular concentration is 10
g/L for a stock solution. If an oily substance forms on the surface, the solution must be
discarded. This solution is light sensitive so it must be stored in a dark container away from
sunlight.
References:
Artwohl J et al; 2009. Extreme Susceptibility of African Naked Mole Rats (Heterocephalus
glaber) to Experimental Infection with Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1. Comparative Medicine.
59(1) 83-90.
Anesthesia and Analgesia in Laboratory Animals
Laboratory Animal Medicine Second Edition
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Formulary for Laboratory Animals Third Edition 2005
Carpenter, James; 2005. Exotic Animal Formulary 3rd Ed. Elsevier Saunders, St. Louis, MO.
.
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