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 FLUIDS OTHER
ANTIBIOTICS *1
Streptomycin and procaine penicillin TOXIC to rats and mice so possibly also toxic to squirrels
DRUG |
DOSE |
ROUTE |
DIRECTIONS |
USES/NOTES |
Amoxycillin trihydrate (Betamox LA 150mg/ml) |
150mg/kg |
IM |
|
|
Amoxicillin and clavulanic acid |
2ml/kg |
PO |
|
|
Cefalexin |
60mg/kg |
PO |
|
|
|
15mg/kg |
SC |
|
|
Enrofloxacin (Baytril 5%) |
10mg/kg |
SC, PO |
SID |
|
Oxytetracycline (long acting) |
60mg/kg |
SC, IM |
SID every 3 days |
|
Potentiated sulphonamides (trimethoprim/sulfadiazine) |
120mg/kg |
SC, IM |
|
|
|
0.5ml/kg |
|
|
24% solution = 240mg/ml = 0.5ml/kg |
DRUG |
DOSE |
ROUTE |
DIRECTIONS |
USES/NOTES |
Buprenorphine (Temgesic/Vetergesic) |
0.05-0.5mg/kg |
SC, IM, IP, IV |
q6-12 hrs |
|
Butorphanol (Torbugesic) |
1-2mg/kg |
SC |
q4 hrs |
|
Carprofen (Rimadyl/Zenecarp) |
5mg/kg |
SC, PO |
SID |
|
Meloxicam |
1-2mg/kg |
SC, PO |
SID |
|
DRUG |
DOSE |
ROUTE |
DIRECTIONS |
USES/NOTES |
Acepromazine |
0.5-1mg/kg |
|
|
|
Atipamezole (Antisedan) |
1mg/kg |
SC |
|
Reversal of medetomidine |
Diazepam (Valium) |
3-5 mg/kg |
IM |
|
|
Ketamine + diazepam |
75mg/kg + 8mg/kg |
IP |
|
Light anaesthesia for 20-30mins |
Ketamine + medetomidine |
75 mg/kg + |
IP |
|
Surgical anaesthesia for 20-30 |
Midazolam/fentanyl/fluanisone (MFF) |
*2.7 ml/kg |
IP |
|
Surgical anaesthesia. *Dose in ml/kg of a mixture of 1 part fentanyl/fluanisone plus 2 parts water for injection and 1 part midazolam (5 mg/ml initial concentration) |
DRUG |
DOSE |
ROUTE |
DIRECTIONS |
USES/NOTES |
Fenbendazole |
20mg/kg |
PO |
SID x 5 days |
For GI nematodes |
Fipronil |
7.5mg/kg |
topically |
q30-60 days |
Anti-flea treatment |
Ivermectin |
0.2-0.4mg/kg |
SC, topical |
q7-14 days |
Ecto-and endoparasiticide |
Praziquantel (Droncit) |
6-10mg/kg |
SC, PO |
q10 days x 2-3 treatments |
For cestodes |
DRUG |
DOSE |
ROUTE |
DIRECTIONS |
USES/NOTES |
Isotonic fluids |
Between 50-100ml/kg/day |
Mainly SC route |
Warm fluids |
Assume minimum 10% dehydration on arrival, add as appropriate |
Lactated Ringer’s Solution |
10-25ml/kg |
SC, IP, IV |
slow bolus |
Fluid therapy |
OTHER *4
DRUG |
DOSE |
ROUTE |
DIRECTIONS |
USES/NOTES |
Atropine |
0.05-0.1mg/kg |
SC |
|
Bradycardia |
Cimetidine (Tagamet) |
5-10mg/kg |
PO, SC, IM |
q 6-12 hrs |
Gastric and duodenal ulcers |
Dexamethasone |
0.5-2mg/kg |
SC, IM, IV |
|
Corticosteroid: SELDOM INDICATED IN RODENTS |
Doxapram (Dopram) |
5-10mg/kg |
IV, IP |
|
Respiratory stimulant |
Frusimide (lasix 5%) *2 |
2-10mg/kg |
PO, SC, IM |
q6-12 hrs |
Diuretic |
Metoclopromide |
0.2-1mg/kg |
PO, SC, IM |
BID |
Motility stimulant |
Pentobarbital sodium (Pentobarbital) *5 |
150-200mg/kg, or as necessary |
IP, IV |
|
Euthanasia |
Vitamin K |
1-10mg/kg |
IM |
BID x 4-6 days |
Select bleeding disorders and toxicities |
References
*1 BSAVA Manual of Wildlife Casualties
*2 Irish Veterinary Journal Volume 61 Number 3, Michelle Ward BSc BVSc (Hons I) DZooMed (Mammalian) MRCVS
*3 Flecknell, Paul. “Anaesthesia and analgesia for rodents and rabbits.” Handbook of Rodent and Rabbit Medicine
*4 Exotic Animal Formulary, third edition
*5 American Veterinary Medical Association Guidelines on Euthanasia (rat dose)