THIS SECTION IS INTENDED AS A REFERENCE FOR VETERINARY SURGEONS ONLY
Any medications dispensed or administered, or procedures performed, should only be by or under order of a qualified, licensed veterinary surgeon.
Given the current scarcity of drugs licensed for use in wildlife, the responsible use of the cascade system is recommended.
Drug information and dosages are derived from a variety of sources (see references), and do not necessarily guarantee safety or efficacy.
ANTIBIOTICS ANALGESICS & ANTI-INFLAMMATORIES ANAESTHETICS & SEDATIVES ANTHELMENTICS HEDGEHOG LUNGWORM PROTOCOL FLUIDS OTHER
DRUG |
DOSE |
ROUTE |
DIRECTIONS |
USES/NOTES |
Amoxycillin trihydrate (Betamox LA 150mg/ml) |
50-150mg/kg |
|
Every second day |
Broad-spectrum bactericidal |
Amoxycillin and clavulanic acid |
30-50mg/kg |
IM, SC, PO |
BID |
Respiratory infections, skin infections, enteritis |
Ampicillin (long acting) |
20mg/kg |
PO, SC |
SID? |
Broad-spectrum bactericidal |
Cefalexin |
30mg/kg |
IM, SC, PO |
SID or BID |
Skin infections |
Chlortetracycline hydrochloride, benzocaine (Aureomycin) |
|
topical |
Daily |
Bacterial infections (powder or spray) |
Clindamycin (Antirobe) |
10-20mg/kg |
PO |
BID |
Bone / dental conditions |
Enrofloxacin (Baytril 5%) |
10mg/kg |
SC, PO |
SID for 5 days (7 days if pneumonia) |
Bordetellosis, pneumonia, neonatal enteritis |
Metronidazole (Flagyl) |
40mg/kg |
SC |
SID |
Dental conditions |
Metronidazole and spiramycin (Stomorgyl) |
Half tablet/kg |
PO |
SID? |
Dental conditions |
Oxytetracycline |
50mg/kg |
PO |
BID |
Respiratory infections |
DRUG |
DOSE |
ROUTE |
DIRECTIONS |
USES/NOTES |
Buprenorphine (Temgesic/Vetergesic) |
20-30mcg/kg |
IM |
TID |
Trauma, post-op analgesia |
|
0.05mg/kg? |
IM |
8-12 hrs |
Do Not exceed max dose |
Butorphanol (Torbugesic) *1 |
0.2-0.4mg/kg |
SC, IM |
Every 6-8hrs |
Analgesia, (anti-emetic/tussive) |
Carprofen (Rimadyl/Zenecarp) |
5-10mg/kg |
SC |
SID, PO – BID, max 3 days |
Analgesic and anti-inflammatory |
Flunixin meglumine (Finadyne) |
2mg/kg |
SC, PO |
SID, maximum 5 days |
Respiratory, myiasis |
Meloxicam *3 |
0.5mg/kg |
|
SID up to 3 days |
Analgesic / anti-inflammatory |
DRUG |
DOSE |
ROUTE |
DIRECTIONS |
USES/NOTES |
Atipamezole (Antisedan) |
300-500mcg/kg |
IM |
|
Reversal agent for medetomidine |
Diazepam (Valium) |
1-3mg/kg |
IV or IM |
|
General sedation at lower dose |
Isoflurane |
Induce at 5%, maintain 1-3% |
|
|
Routine GA |
Medetomidine + ketamine *2 |
0.1 mg/kg + |
IM |
|
Reversal of medetomidine using atipamezole 0.3-0.5 mg/kg. |
Medetomidine + ketamine |
100mcg/kg + |
IM |
|
GA sometimes prolonged recovery |
DRUG |
DOSE |
ROUTE |
DIRECTIONS |
USES/NOTES |
Enilconazole 10% (Imaverol) *2 |
Mix 1:50 with sterile water |
Topical spray |
daily |
Ringworm |
Fenbendazole |
100mg/kg |
PO |
SID for 5 days |
Roundworms, lungworms, limited use on tapeworms |
Fipronil 0.25% (Frontline) |
Spray sparingly |
topical |
|
Fleas, ticks. NB VENTILATION |
Ivermectin |
0.2-3mg/kg |
SC |
|
GI parasites, levamizole drug of choice for lungworm |
|
0.2-3mg/kg |
SC |
|
Mange and adjunct to myiasis therapy |
Ivermectin for cattle *2 |
400mcg/kg |
|
|
Mange |
|
|
topical |
Use sparingly |
For maggots, when mixed 1:9 with water |
|
0.4ml/kg |
SC |
Once weekly for 3 wks |
Mange, ticks, fleas, mites, when mixed 1:9 with propylene glycol |
Mebendazole |
50-100mg/kg |
PO |
SID for 5 days |
Roundworms, tapeworms |
Neomycin + permethrin (GAC ear drops) *2 |
One or two drops |
Topical - ear |
|
Ear mites |
Permethrin |
|
topical |
Dust all over skin |
Fleas |
Praziquantel (Droncit) |
10-20mg/kg |
IM, SC |
|
Tapeworm, Brachylaemus flukes |
Pyrethrum (Rid Mite Powder) *2 |
|
topical |
|
Ectoparasites |
Sulfadimidine |
200mg/kg |
SC |
For 3 days |
Coccidiosis |
DRUG |
DOSE |
ROUTE |
DIRECTIONS |
USES/NOTES |
Amoxycillin (long acting) |
150mg/kg |
|
Single dose with first Levamisole, then every 2nd day afterwards |
Antibiotic. |
Etamiphylline camsylate (Millophyline) |
28mg/kg |
SC |
Immediately on arrival then day of, and day after each dose of levamisole |
Bronchodilator. |
Levamisole (Levadin) |
20mg/kg |
SC |
Once weekly for 3 weeks |
Wormer |
Methylprednisolone (Depo-Medrone) |
Up to 4mg/kg |
|
Single dose with levamisole |
Corticosteroid |
DRUG |
DOSE |
ROUTE |
DIRECTIONS |
USES/NOTES |
Isotonic fluids |
Mainly 50-100mg/kg/day |
Generally SC route |
Warm fluids |
Assume minimum 10% dehydration on arrival, add as appropriate |
Dextrose 4% with sodium chloride 0.18% |
100ml/kg maintenance |
SC |
Daily |
Long term loss, dehydration |
Duphalyte (electrolytes, vits, amino-acids, dextrose) *2 |
10ml/kg in fluids |
SC |
Daily |
|
Hartmann’s *2 |
100ml/kg/day maintenance |
SC |
Add 10% Duphalyte |
No more than 50ml/kg at one time/site |
OTHER
DRUG |
DOSE |
ROUTE |
DIRECTIONS |
USES/NOTES |
Atropine |
0.2mg/kg |
|
|
Cardiac stimulant |
Betamethasone |
0.5mg/kg |
IM |
|
Corticosteroid |
Bromhexidine Hydrochloride (Bisolvon) |
1pinch |
On food |
BID |
Mucolytic, aids bronchopneumonia |
Chloramphenicol eye ointment |
|
topical |
4-6 times daily |
|
Clenbuterol Hydrochloride (Ventipulmin) |
1pinch |
PO |
BID |
Bronchodilator, severe respiratory distress |
Doxapram (Dopram) |
5mg/kg |
|
|
Respiratory stimulant |
Etamiphylline camsylate (Millophyline) |
30mg/kg |
IM, SC |
BID - TID |
Cardiorespiratory stimulant. |
Frusimide (lasix 5%) *2 |
2.5 – 5.0mg/kg |
IM, SC |
TID |
Drinking water needs to be available |
Kaolin |
|
|
|
Anti-diarrhoeal for salmonella |
Lacri-lube eye ointment |
|
|
SID |
|
Methylprednisolone (Solu medrone V) |
20 - 50mg/kg *2 |
IV |
4 – 6 hr intervals |
Corticosteroid, suppression of inflammation |
|
1-6mg/kg |
IM |
Single dose |
Long acting corticosteroid |
Multivitamins (Abidec) *2 |
0.5ml/kg |
PO |
Daily |
|
Pentobarbital sodium (Pentobarbital) |
120-200 mg/kg, as necessary |
then IV, IP, IC |
General anaesthesia FIRST |
Euthanasia |
Pralidoxime |
|
|
Useful if given within 24hrs of poisoning |
Combat pesticide poisoning |
Vitamin K |
5-7mg/kg |
|
|
Warfarin poisoning |
Ranitidine (Zantac) *3 |
3.5mg/kg |
|
BID for at least 14 days |
Antacid |
References
BSAVA Manual of Wildlife Casualties
*1 Current Veterinary Therapy XIII Small Animal Practice
*2 Medication for Use in the Treatment of Hedgehogs, Les Stocker
*3 Medications & Dosages for Hedgehogs, Caroline Gould & Tim Partridge B.V.Sc., M.R.C.V.S.
www.hedgehog-rescue.org.uk/documents/drugs_2010.pdf