ButorVet 10 mg/ml Solution for Injection for Horses, Dogs and Cats
Active ingredient: Butorphanol
Form
Injection
Species
Manufacturer
C&H Generics Ltd
VMD MA No.
40162/3004
What it's used for
As a sedative: For sedation, given after the administration of certain alpha2-adrenoceptor agonists (detomidine, romifidine) Dog As an analgesic: For the r...
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ButorVet 10 mg/ml Solution for Injection for Horses, Dogs and Cats — SPC Details
Source: VMD Summary of Product Characteristics (SPC). Last updated 27 Mar 2026.
For sedation, given after the administration of certain alpha2-adrenoceptor agonists
(detomidine, romifidine)
Dog
As an analgesic:
For the relief of moderate visceral pain in dogs.
As a sedative:
For sedation in conjunction with certain alpha2-adrenoceptor agonists
(medetomidine)
As a premedicant prior to general anaesthesia:
For use as a premedicant as a sole agent or in combination with acepromazine. A
dose-related reduction in the dose of induction-anaesthetic agent (propofol) is also
provided.
As an anaesthetic:
For anaesthesia when used in combination with medetomidine and ketamine.
Cat
As an analgesic for the relief of moderate pain:
For pre-operative use to provide analgesia during surgery.
For post-operative analgesia after small surgical procedures.
As a sedative:
For sedation when used in combination with certain alpha2-adrenoceptor agonists
(medetomidine).
As an anaesthetic:
For anaesthesia, when used in combination with medetomidine and ketamine,
suitable for short painful anaesthetic procedures.
For analgesia:
RouteDose butorphanolDose product
IV0.10 mg/kg bw
1 ml/100 kg bw
CommentAnalgesic effects are seen within 15 minutes of injection.
Dose may be repeated as required.
For sedation in combination with detomidine hydrochloride:
Route
Dose of
detomidine
hydrochloride
Dose
butorphanol*
Dose product
IV0.012 mg/kg bw0.025 mg/kg bw0.25 ml/100 kg bw
Comment
Detomidine should be administered up to 5 minutes before the
butorphanol dose.
*Clinical experience has shown that a total dose rate of 5 mg detomidine
hydrochloride and 10 mg butorphanol affords effective, safe sedation in horses
above 200 kg body weight.
For sedation in combination with romifidine:
Route
Dose of
romifidine
Dose
butorphanol
Dose productIV
0.04-0.12
mg/kg bw
0.02 mg/kg bw0.2 ml/100 kg bwComment
Romifidine should be administered up to 5 minutes before the
butorphanol dose.
Dog
For analgesia:
Route
Dose
butorphanol
Dose product
IV,IM or
SC
0.20-0.30 mg/kg bw0.02-0.03 ml/kg bw
Comment
IV injection should be slow.
Analgesic effects are seen within 15 minutes of injection.
Administer 15 minutes before terminating anaesthesia to provide
analgesia in the recovery phase.
For continuous analgesia repeat dose as required.
For sedation in combination with medetomidine hydrochloride:
Dose
butorphanol
Dose product
Dose
medetomidineRoute
IM or
IV
0.1 mg/kg bw0.01 ml/kg bw0.01-0.025 mg/kg bw
Comment
Allow 20 minutes for profound sedation to develop before
commencing the procedure.
Where compatibility is accepted, products containing medetomidine
and butorphanol may be combined and administered in the same
syringe (see section 5.1).
The medetomidine dose should be adjusted depending on the depth
of sedation required.
For use as a premedicant:
- When the product is used as the sole agent:
RouteDose butorphanolDose product
IV, IM or
SC
0.1-0.20 mg/kg bw0.01-0.02 ml/kg bw
Comment15 minutes prior to induction
- When the product is used together with 0.02 mg/kg acepromazine:
RouteDose butorphanolDose product
IV or IM 0.10 mg/kg bw*0.01 ml/kg bw*
Comment
Allow at least 20 minutes before the onset of action but the time
between pre-medication and induction is flexible from 20-120
minutes.
Where compatibility is accepted, products containing butorphanol
and acepromazine may be combined and administered in the same
syringe (see section 5.1).
* The dose may be increased to 0.2 mg/kg (equivalent to 0.02 ml/kg) if the animal is
already experiencing pain before the procedure commences or if a higher plane of
analgesia is required during surgery.
For anaesthesia in combination with medetomidine and ketamine:
Dose
butorphanol
Dose product
Dose
medetomidine
Dose
ketamineRouteIM0.10 mg/kg bw0.01 ml/kg bw
0.025mg/kg
bw
5.0mg/kg bw
Comment
Reversal with atipamezole is not recommended
Where compatibility is accepted, products containing medetomidine
and butorphanol may be combined and administered in the same
syringe (see section 5.1).
Ketamine should be administered 15 minutes after the IM
administration of the butorphanol/medetomidine combination.
Cat
For pre-operative analgesia:
Route
Dose
butorphanol
Dose
product
IM or
SC
0.4 mg/kg bw0.04 ml/kg bw
CommentAdminister 15-30 minutes prior to the administration of IV induction
anaesthetic agents
Administer 5 minutes before induction with IM induction anaesthetic
agents such as combinations of IM acepromazine/ ketamine or
xylazine/ketamine
For post-operative analgesia:
Route
Dose
butorphanol
Dose
productSC or IM0.4 mg/kg bw
0.04 ml /kg bw
IV0.1 mg/kg bw
0.01 ml /kg bw
CommentAdminister 15 minutes before recovery
For sedation in combination with medetomidine hydrochloride:
Dose
butorphanol
Dose
product
Dose
medetomidine
hydrochloride
Route
IM or SC0.4 mg/kg bw0.04 ml/kg bw0.05 mg/kg bw
CommentLocal anaesthetic infiltration should be used for wound suturing.
Where compatibility is accepted, products containing medetomidine
and butorphanol may be combined and administered in the same
syringe (see section 5.1).
For anaesthesia in combination with medetomidine and ketamine:
Dose
butorphanol
Dose
product
Dose
medetomidine
Dose
ketamineRouteIM0.40 mg/kg bw0.04 ml/kg bw0.08 mg/kg bw5.0 mg/kg bw*
IV
0.10 mg/kg bw
0.01 ml/kg bw0.04 mg/kg bw
1.25-2.50 mg/kg
bw (depending on
depth of
anaesthesia
required)
CommentWhere compatibility is accepted, products containing medetomidine,
butorphanol and ketamine may be combined and administered in the
same syringe (see section 5.1).
Do not use in known cases of hypersensitivity to the active substance or any of the
excipients.
Do not use in animals with severe dysfunction of the liver or kidneys.
Do not use in animals with cerebral injury or organic brain lesions.
Do not use in animals with obstructive respiratory disease, heart dysfunction or
spastic conditions.
Horse:
Butorphanol/detomidine hydrochloride combination:
Do not use in cases of colic associated with impaction as the combination will cause
a reduction in gastrointestinal motility.
Do not use in horses with a pre-existing cardiac dysrhythmia or bradycardia.
Do not use in horses with emphysema due to a possible depressive effect on the
respiratory system.
Do not use in pregnant mares.
Butorphanol/romifidine combination
Do not use during the last month of pregnancy.
Very common
(>1 animal / 10 animals treated):
Ataxia
1,2
, Sedation
Very rare
(<1 animal / 10,000 animals treated,
including isolated reports):
Injection site pain
Digestive tract disorder
Pacing
Cardiac depression
1
Mild; may persist for 3 to 10 minutes.
Mild to severe ataxia may be encountered in combination with detomidine, but
clinical studies have shown that horses are unlikely to collapse. Normal precautions
should be observed to prevent self-injury.
Following the administration of the product as a sole agent, may occur in
approximately 15% of horses
Following intramuscular injection.
May also have adverse effects on gastrointestinal tract motility in horses, although
there is no decrease in gastrointestinal transit time. These effects are dose-related
and generally minor and transient.
May cause excitatory locomotor effects.
When used in combination with
depression may occur very rarely. In these cases, fatality may occur rarely.
Dogs:
Rare
(1 to 10 animals / 10,000 animals
treated):
Anorexia
Ataxia
Diarrhoea
Very rare
(<1 animal / 10,000 animals treated,
including isolated reports):
Injection site pain
Respiratory depression
Cardiac depression
Digestive tract disorder
8
Transient
Following intramuscular injection.
A decrease in respiratory rate, development of bradycardia and a decrease in
diastolic pressure may occur. The degree of depression is dose dependent.
Reduction in gastrointestinal motility
Cats:
Very rare
(<1 animal / 10,000 animals treated,
including isolated reports):
Injection site pain
Excitation
Dysphoria
Mydriasis
Respiratory depression
Following intramuscular injection.
Reporting adverse events is important. It allows continuous safety monitoring of a
veterinary medicinal product. Reports should be sent, preferably via a veterinarian,
to either the marketing authorisation holder or its local representative or the national
competent authority via the national reporting system. See the package leaflet for
respective contact details.
to medium duration analgesia (cat) is required (see section 4.2). In cases where
longer duration analgesia is likely to be required, an alternative therapeutic agent
should be used. Marked sedation does not occur when butorphanol injection is used
as a sole agent in cats. In cats increasing the dose will not increase intensity or
duration of desired effects.
Special precautions for safe use in the target species:
All target species:
Due to its antitussive properties, butorphanol may lead to an accumulation of
mucous in the respiratory tract. Therefore, in animals with respiratory diseases
associated with increased mucous production, butorphanol should only be used
according to a benefit-risk assessment by the responsible veterinary surgeon.
Prior to use of the product in combination with α2-adrenoreceptor agonists routine
cardiac auscultation should be performed and the concurrent use of anticholinergic
drugs, e.g. atropine should be considered.
The combination of butorphanol and an α2-adrenoceptor agonists should be used
with caution in animals with mild to moderate dysfunction of the liver or kidney.
Take care when administering butorphanol to animals concurrently treated with other
central nervous depressants (see section 3.8).
The safety of the product in puppies, kittens and foals has not been established and
therefore in these animals the product should only be used according to a benefit-
risk assessment by the responsible veterinary surgeon.
Horse
The use of the product at the recommended dose may lead to transient ataxia and/or
excitement. Therefore, to prevent injuries, in the patient and people when treating
horses, the location for the treatment should be chosen carefully.
Dog
When administering as an intravenous injection, do not inject as a bolus.
In dogs with MDR1 mutation reduce dose by 25-50%.
Cat
Cats should be weighed to ensure that the correct dose is calculated. Use of either
insulin syringes or 1 ml graduated syringes is recommended.
Special precautions to be taken by the person administering the veterinary medicinal
product to animals
Butorphanol has opioid-like activity. The most frequent adverse effects of
butorphanol in humans are drowsiness, sweating, nausea, dizziness, and vertigo
and these may occur following unintended self-injection. Care should be taken to
avoid accidental injection/self-injection. If accidental self-injection occurs, seek
medical advice immediately and show the package leaflet or the label to the
physician. Do not drive. An opioid antagonist (e.g. naloxone) may be used as an
antidote.
Wash splashes from skin and eyes immediately.
(romifidine or detomidine in horses, medetomidine in dogs and cats) synergistic effects
occur requiring a butorphanol dose reduction (see section 3.5 and 3.9).
Butorphanol is antitussive and should not be used in combination with an expectorant
as it may lead to an accumulation of mucous in the airways.
Butorphanol has antagonist properties at the opiate mu receptor which may remove
the analgesic effect of pure opioid mu agonists (e.g. morphine/oxymorphine) in
animals that have already received these agents.
The concomitant use of other central nervous depressants would be expected to
potentiate the effects of butorphanol and such drugs should be used with caution. A
reduced butorphanol dose should be used when administering these agents
concurrently.
Not authorised for use in mares producing milk for human consumption.
This information is sourced from the official Summary of Product Characteristics (SPC) published by the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD). It is provided for informational purposes only and does not replace professional veterinary advice. Always consult your vet before administering any medication.
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Related Conditions
Other Products Containing Butorphanol
These products share the same active ingredient and may be suitable alternatives. Always consult your vet.
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