Uses for Butorphanol

• Veterinarians use butorphanol to treat a number of conditions. According toPetEducation.com, butorphanol can be used to as a cough suppressant, pain reliever and anti-nausea medication. It can also be used as a sedative.
  
  

A Safe Dose

• Based on a research study conducted by the Clinical Sciences Department at the Université de Montréal in Canada, a healthy dog that has been anesthetized using isoflurane can receive 0.25mg of butorphanol per kg of weight. In a report entitled "Analgesic Drugs for Small Animals," Veterinarian Mark Papich claims that 0.1 to 0.5 mg/kg can be safely administered to dogs experiencing mild pain.
  
  

Sign of Overdose

• If your dog has seizures after the butorphanol was administered, this can be a good indication of an overdose. Immediately contact your veterinarian or the Animal Poison Control Center (see Resources).
  
  

Sign of Allergic Reaction

• Seizures can be a sign of an allergic reaction to butorphanol. This should be handled just like an overdose, with an immediate call to your veterinarian. If you cannot reach anyone at the vet's office, call the the Animal Poison Control Center for assistance.
  
  

Drug Interaction

• According to BoneCancerDogs.org, butorphanol has been known to interact negatively with a number of other drugs, such as tranquilizers, barbiturates and antihistamines. It is critically important that you review the list of current medications with your provider before butorphanol is administered, because mixing drugs can sometimes cause seizures.