Bupivacaine: veterinary dose and monograph

At a glance

Drug class

Analgesic

Also known as

Bupivacaine HCl, Marcaine, Sensorcaine

Species with doses

Dogs, Cats, Cattle, Horses, Goats, Sheep, Rabbits and Reptiles

General dose range

1–1.5 mg/kg Epidural single dose — check the species tables for the indication

Routes

Epidural, SC, IP

Last reviewed

1 October 2026

Indications

• Epidural analgesia
• Regional/peripheral nerve blocks
• Incisional/local infiltration (including liposomal formulation)

Bupivacaine dose by species

Doses are per administration unless stated. mg/kg doses scale with body weight; per-animal, per-quarter and infusion-rate doses are shown as the reference writes them.

Dogs

• Epidural analgesia: Papich 5e (dogs and cats): 1–1.5 mg/kg epidurally. Often combined with morphine. Plumb’s 10e p.145 (extra-label): 0.5% solution 1.25 mg/kg, or 1–2 mg/kg with greater efficacy at the higher dose; 1 mg/kg combined with preservative-free morphine 0.1 mg/kg, buprenorphine 4 µg/kg or dexmedetomidine 4 µg/kg (combinations may increase cranial spread and impair respiration). With 0.25% solution, 0.6 mL/kg appears to be the optimal epidural volume.
• Local anaesthesia — tissue infiltration (Plumb’s 10e): Plumb’s 10e p.145 (extra-label): 0.25% or 0.5% solution, 1–2 mg/kg; alternatively 0.5 mg/kg of 0.5% with dexmedetomidine 0.1 µg/kg, or 0.5% mixed with an equal volume of 2% lidocaine to speed onset. Aspirate before injecting; never IV.
• Intraperitoneal — ovariohysterectomy: Plumb’s 10e p.145 (extra-label): 3 mg/kg intraperitoneally along the linea alba before closure; 4.4 mg/kg of the 0.25% solution also appears effective.
• Nerve block / local infiltration: Papich 5e: nerve blocks usually 0.2 mL/kg of 0.5% solution (≈1 mg/kg). Aspirate before injecting; never IV.
• Surgical-site infiltration (liposomal 13.3 mg/mL): Papich 5e and Plumb’s 10e p.148 (label dose; FDA-approved for cranial cruciate surgery): liposomal suspension 5.3 mg/kg (0.4 mL/kg) infiltrated into the surgical tissues at closure — up to 72 h analgesia. Liposomal product only; do not use this dose with conventional bupivacaine.

Cats

• Epidural analgesia: Papich 5e (dogs and cats): 1–1.5 mg/kg epidurally. Plumb’s 10e p.146 (extra-label): 0.5% solution 1.5–2.5 mg/kg lumbosacral epidural; or 0.22 mg/kg caudal epidural (adding preservative-free morphine 0.1 mg/kg modestly reduced propofol needs).
• Local anaesthesia — tissue infiltration (Plumb’s 10e): Plumb’s 10e p.145 (extra-label): 1.1 mg/kg of 0.5% solution; most experts consider 1 mg/kg appropriate for cats, though one study safely infiltrated a wound with 2 mg/kg. Cats are more sensitive to local-anaesthetic toxicity.
• Intraperitoneal — ovariohysterectomy: Plumb’s 10e p.145 (extra-label): 0.25% solution 2 mg/kg divided into 3 equal volumes instilled at the right and left ovarian pedicles and the caudal uterus immediately before OVH (similar results with added epinephrine 2 µg/kg).
• Nerve block / local infiltration: Papich 5e: 0.2 mL/kg of 0.5% solution for nerve blocks. Cats are more sensitive to local-anaesthetic toxicity. (0.2 mL/kg × 5 mg/mL = 1 mg/kg.)
• Onychectomy four-point block (liposomal 13.3 mg/mL): Papich 5e and Plumb’s 10e p.148 (label dose; FDA-approved): liposomal suspension 5.3 mg/kg (0.4 mL/kg) per forelimb, total 10.6 mg/kg per cat, injecting 0.02–0.16 mL/kg at each nerve site per the product insert. Liposomal product only.

Cattle

• Caudal epidural: Plumb’s 10e p.146 (extra-label): 0.05–0.06 mg/kg of 0.5% solution; analgesia improved with the higher dose. Obtain a FARAD withdrawal.

Horses

• Caudal epidural — perineal analgesia: Plumb’s 10e p.146 (extra-label): 0.04 mg/kg of 0.25% solution epidurally, or 0.02 mg/kg combined with morphine 0.1 mg/kg or ketamine 0.5 mg/kg; all were effective, bupivacaine + morphine lasting longest (5.25 h vs 3.5–4 h).

Goats

• Local anaesthesia — tissue infiltration: Plumb’s 10e p.146 (sheep/goats, extra-label): 1.25–2 mg/kg of 0.5% solution (or 0.2 mL/kg — NOT mg/kg — of 0.5%). Forelimb perineural block: 2 mL per animal of 0.5%. Obtain a FARAD withdrawal.
• Lumbar epidural: Plumb’s 10e p.146 (extra-label): 0.5 mg/kg into the epidural space; in goats, 0.8–1.2 mg/kg of 0.5% combined with methadone 0.22 mg/kg by thoracolumbar epidural lasted longer than bupivacaine alone. Obtain a FARAD withdrawal.

Sheep

• Local anaesthesia — tissue infiltration: Plumb’s 10e p.146 (sheep/goats, extra-label): 1.25–2 mg/kg of 0.5% solution (or 0.2 mL/kg — NOT mg/kg — of 0.5%). Forelimb perineural block: 2 mL per animal of 0.5%. Obtain a FARAD withdrawal.
• Lumbar epidural: Plumb’s 10e p.146 (extra-label): 0.5 mg/kg into the epidural space — in sheep this gave analgesia with fewer cardiovascular and respiratory effects than 0.25 mg/kg combined with fentanyl or methadone. Obtain a FARAD withdrawal.

Buffalo

No buffalo-specific doses are on file, so buffalo are dosed as cattle.

• Caudal epidural: Plumb’s 10e p.146 (extra-label): 0.05–0.06 mg/kg of 0.5% solution; analgesia improved with the higher dose. Obtain a FARAD withdrawal.

Rabbits

• Local infiltration / coccygeal epidural: Plumb’s 10e p.146 (rabbits, guinea pigs, chinchillas, rodents; extra-label): tissue infiltration 1 mg/kg; rabbits — 1.5 mg/kg of 0.5% into the coccygeal spinal canal gave hind-limb, perineal and tail analgesia (inadvertent vascular entry may occur).

Reptiles

• Local anaesthesia — tissue infiltration: Plumb’s 10e p.146 (reptiles/amphibians, extra-label): 0.25% or 0.5% solution 1–2 mg/kg, diluted up to 1:1 to expand volume if needed. Tortoises/turtles: 1 mg/kg of 0.5% intrathecally at the coccygeal vertebrae gives ≈2 hours of regional analgesia.

Contraindications

NEVER give IV (cardiotoxic — refractory arrhythmias and cardiovascular collapse); aspirate before every injection. Epidural contraindicated with coagulopathy, skin infection at the site or hypovolaemia. Cats are more sensitive to local-anaesthetic toxicity — use the lowest effective dose.

Adverse effects

• Hypotension and hind-limb paralysis (epidural)
• Urinary retention (epidural)
• Cardiotoxicity and seizures with overdose or IV injection

Toxicity and overdose

Management: Stop injecting; oxygen and ventilation; benzodiazepine for seizures; intravenous lipid emulsion (20%, 1.5 mL/kg then 0.25–0.5 mL/kg/min) for cardiotoxicity.

Formulations and products

• 0.25% injection (2.5 mg/mL)
• 0.5% injection (5 mg/mL)
• Liposomal injectable suspension 13.3 mg/mL

Before you use this dose

Reference doses for veterinary professionals. Confirm the dose against the product label, the patient’s condition, current guidance and local regulations before use; the attending veterinarian remains responsible for every clinical decision.

Other analgesics

• Amantadine
• Aspirin
• Buprenorphine
• Butorphanol
• Codeine
• Dipyrone (Metamizole)
• Fentanyl
• Gabapentin

Frequently asked questions