Allopurinol

10–50 mg/kg/day, PO

Gout, reduces uric acid production

Aluminium hydroxide

100 mg/kg, PO, every 12–24 hours

Reduces phosphorus absorption and may lower blood phosphorus levels

Aminophylline

2–4 mg/kg, IM

Respiratory disease when bronchodilation required

Arginine vasotocin

0.01–1 mcg/kg

Egg binding (more potent than oxytocin)

Calcitonin

1.5 units/kg, SC, three times daily

50 units/kg, IM, repeat every 1–2 weeks for 3 treatments

Hypercalcemia, fluid therapy also recommended

Secondary hyperparathyroidism. Do not give unless normocalcemic.

Calcium gluconate (10 mg/mL)

Calcium carbonate

100 mg/kg, IM, every 6 hours, or 400 mg/kg, IV, intraosseous, given over 24 hours

PO as needed

Hypocalcemia in iguanas; high phosphorus concentration may cause soft-tissue mineralization

Cimetidine

4 mg/kg, PO, 2–3 times daily

Regurgitation, vomiting, gastritis, GI ulceration

Cisapride

0.5–2 mg/kg/day, PO

GI motility modification; not recommended to use with clarithromycin in tortoises

Dexamethasone

0.3–1.5 mg/kg, IM, IV, intraosseous

Inflammation, shock, beware of immunosuppression, rarely indicated

Dinoprost (prostaglandin)

0.5 mg/kg, IM or per cloaca, as a single dose

Nonobstructive dystocia, typically used in combination with oxytocin or vasotocin

Ketoprofen

2 mg/kg, SC, IM, every 1–2 days

Inflammation, pain

Furosemide

2–5 mg/kg, IM, IV, once to twice daily

Diuresis (effective despite lack of loop of Henle in reptiles)

Iodine

2–4 mg/kg, PO, every 7 days

Prophylaxis for goitrogenic diets

Iron

12 mg/kg, IM, every 7 days (alligators)

Anemia in alligators

Metoclopramide

1-10 mg/kg/day, PO, for 7 days

Unproven efficacy

Prednisolone

1–5 mg/kg, PO

Anti-inflammatory, reduction of nephrocalcinosis, beware of immunosuppression, rarely indicated

Selenium

0.028 mg/kg, IM

Deficiency in lizards

Sucralfate

500–1000 mg/kg, PO, 1-3 times daily

Gastric irritation/ulceration

Thiamine

50–100 mg/kg, IM

Thiamine deficiency

Vitamin A

5,000 units/kg, PO, every 7 days

Hypovitaminosis A (iatrogenic hypervitaminosis A may result from repeated treatment)