Cervine Formulary


Chapter 34
Cervine Formulary


Kit Heawood


Introduction


Evidence base key















  Published evidence for use in deer found in the United Kingdom
  Published evidence in species not seen in United Kingdom, used in case reports
  No published evidence, used by the author
  Should not be used in deer

The purpose of this formulary is to act as a referenced guide for veterinarians using medicines in deer cases. The specified dose rates are from publications where medicines have been used safely and, where possible, demonstrably effective. The route of administration should always be consistent with the datasheet for the specific medicine being used.


The medicines for specific conditions have been reported in the relevant book chapters and are not covered in this formulary. It is up to the attending veterinarian to decide which medicine is most appropriate for the clinical case. This formulary is a collection of published studies and experience for each medicine, to assist in the decision-making process.


The published evidence base for medicine use in deer is scant, with limited pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic data. Doses are often extrapolated from other species because medicines are rarely licensed for deer.


Given the variety of deer species, the formulary includes designated deer species, so that species may be factored into the clinician’s decision-making process for selection of the most appropriate medicinal product.


When prescribing medicines, local law and the context of care must always be considered. In the European Union, the use of medicines in animals intended for human consumption is governed by the ‘Commission Regulation (EU) No 37/2010 of 22 December 2009 on pharmacologically active substances and their classification regarding maximum residue limits in foodstuffs of animal origin’. In the United Kingdom medicines permitted for use in food producing animals and maximum residue limits may be found in “Maximum Residue Limits in Great Britain” (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/maximum-residues-limits-mrl).



  • Medicines in Annex Table 1 of the EU regulation are detailed within this formulary in the column ‘Useable in food-producing animals’.


  • All deer in the United Kingdom, enclosed/captive and wild, are in principle considered to be food-producing animals.


EMA antimicrobial categories are A Avoid B Restrict C Caution D Prudence.


Table 34.1 Antimicrobials.


Table 34.2 Anthelmintics, coccidiostats and ectoparasiticides.


Table 34.3 Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents.


Table 34.4 Glucocorticoids.


Table 34.5 Sedatives and anaesthetic agents.


Table 34.6 Sedation reversal agents.


Table 34.7 Reproductive hormones.


Table 34.8 Vitamins, minerals and trace-elements.


Table 34.9 Miscellaneous.


Abbreviations used in the tables – IM, intramuscular; IV, intravenous; SQ, subcutaneous.


Table 34.1 Antimicrobials.












































































































Pharmacologically active agent Dose rate, delivery route and dosing interval Evidence base and references Species described EMA antimicrobial category Useable in food-producing animals Comments
Amoxicillin 15 mg/kg IM q48 h   N/A D Y
Amoxicillin-clavulanate 8.75 mg/kg IM q24 h   N/A C Y
Ceftiofur hydrochloride

7 mg/kg (white-tailed),


3.6 mg/kg (fallow) q12 h

 1, 2 Fallow deer (Dama dama), White-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) B Y
Ceftiofur sodium

2.5 mg/kg IM q12 h


250 mg total

 3 Red deer (Cervus elaphus) B Y
Enrofloxacin 5 mg/kg, IM 4 Brocket deer (Mazama americana) B Y
Florfenicol

20 mg/kg IM,


40 mg/kg SQ

 1, 5 Elk/wapiti (Cervus elaphus canadensis) C Y No published efficacy data, although residue data present. Dose-dependent duration of action.
Marbofloxacin

8 mg/kg IM q72 h


4 mg/kg IM/PO q24 h

   N/A B Y Per-os dosing only used in neonates where failure of passive transfer has occurred.
Oxytetracycline 40 mg/kg IM/SQ 1, 6 Fallow deer (Dama dama), White-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) D Y Dose-dependent duration of action – 1–2 d.
Procaine benzylpenicillin 15 mg/kg IM q48 h   N/A D Y
Tilmicosin 10 mg/kg 7 Elk/Wapiti (Cervus elaphus canadensis) C Y No residue limits established, only studied over 5 d.
Trimethoprim sulphonamide 15 mg/kg SQ q24 h 8 Reindeer (Rangifer tarandus) D Y
Tulathromycin 2.5 mg/kg, SQ, likely effect 7 d 1, 9 White-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) C Y Longer meat withdrawals required than cattle due to tissue residue persistence. No evidence for duration of effect.

Table 34.2 Anthelmintics, coccidiostats and ectoparasiticides.



























































































































Pharmacologically active agent Dose rate, delivery route and dosing interval Evidence base and references Species described Useable in food-producing animals Comments
Abamectin 0.2 mg/kg PO, SQ 10–12 Red deer (Cervus elaphus), Fallow deer (Dama dama) Y
Albendazole 10 mg/kg PO 13–15 White-tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus), Fallow deer (Dama dama) Y
Closantel Do not use   N/A Y Use of closantel in deer has been associated with neurological signs and death.
Deltamethrin 100 mg/large deer, topically 50 mg/small deer, topically 16 Reindeer (Rangifer tarandus) Y
Diclazuril 1 mg/kg PO   N/A Y Relatively short persistence, second dose may be required one week following initial treatment.
Doramectin 0.2 mg/kg PO, SQ 17, 18 White-tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus) Y
Ivermectin 0.2 mg/kg PO SQ, 0.3 mg/kg SQ (reindeer) 0.5 mg/kg topically 13, 19–28 Reindeer (Rangifer tarandus), Red deer (Cervus elaphus), White-tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus) Y Topical treatment is not recommended unless no other option is available. Association has been made between ivermectin treatment and reduced antler length in red deer stags.
Fenbendazole 20 mg/kg PO daily for 5 d 20, 21, 28–32 Red deer (Cervus elaphus), White-tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus) Y Referenced literature reported 10 and 15 mg/kg dose rates; however, the author routinely uses 20 mg/kg, which has achieved successful faecal egg reduction in multiple deer species with no noted side effects. In-feed formulations have been used at 7.5 mg/kg. In other species, a wide toxicity index is noted to fenbendazole, this also appears to be the case in deer species.
Levamisole 15 m/kg PO 33 Red deer (Cervus elaphus) Y Generally avoided due to poor efficacy, dose rate specified is extracted from a combination product.
Monepantel 5 mg/kg PO   N/A Y Only used in individual cases where multi-worm resistance is confirmed by faecal egg reduction testing.
Moxidectin 0.2 mg/kg SQ, 0.4 mg/kg SQ (reindeer) 0.5 mg/kg topically 1, 33–37 Reindeer (Rangifer tarandus), Red deer (Cervus elaphus), White-tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus) Y Topical treatment is not recommended unless no other option is available.
Nitroxynil 11–24 mg/kg PO 38 White-tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus) Y Egg production inhibited, mature fluke not affected.
Oxfendazole 4.5 mg/kg PO 39 Red deer (Cervus elaphus) Y Metabolism of oxfendazole appears to be rapid, efficacy not well established.
Oxyclozanide 13–29 mg/kg PO 40 White-tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus) Y
Toltrazuril 20 mg/kg PO 118 N/A Y Coccidia species are rarely of clinical concern in deer species. Up to 40 mg/kg has been used in red deer calves.
Triclabendazole 10–15 mg/kg PO 41–46 White-tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus), Fallow deer (Dama dama), Red deer (Cervus elaphus) Y Primary study of triclabendazole use has been in bait stations.

In-feed Use of Anthelmintics


The use of in-feed anthelmintics should be avoided in deer species due to variable rates of ingestion of feed, which lead to variable dosing. This has a high risk of development of resistance; therefore, this should be reserved for situations where clinical necessity outweighs the risk of resistance development and the impact of anthelmintics on the ecology and environment. In park deer situations, if gastro-intestinal parasitism is a repeated clinical concern, the management and stocking density of the park should be evaluated above repeated use of in-feed anthelmintics. In farmed systems, handling systems facilitate the appropriate dosing of anthelmintics by injection or drenching.


Topical Use of Anthelmintics


Due to the coats of deer, the use of topical anthelmintics is discouraged. Resistance has been noted to parasites following topical administration (Rehbein and Vesser 1997)28 and systemic absorption appears variable, leading to a higher likelihood of anthelmintic resistance developing.


Faecal Egg Count Reduction Testing


The use of faecal egg count reduction testing as a mechanism for establishing the presence of anthelmintic resistance has been questioned (Mackintosh et al. 2014).11 The use of post-mortem examination and sampling is a more accurate method of determining resistance presence; however, this is not always practical, especially on an individual animal basis. Faecal Egg Count Reduction tests may be used as a tool; however, their limitations should be considered.


See also Chapters 5, 6, 19 and 24, which discuss anthelmintic use in park and farmed deer for lung and gastro-enteric parasites.


Table 34.3 Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents.







































Pharmacologically active agent Dose rate, delivery route and dosing interval Evidence base and references Species described Useable in food-producing animals Comments
Carprofen 1.4 mg/kg IV, SQ   N/A Y
Flunixin

1.1 mg/kg IV, IM q12 h


2.2 mg/kg IV, IM q24 h

 47 White-tailed Deer, WTD (Odocoileus virginianus) Y Deer (WTD) Intramuscular administration of flunixin has been associated with muscle necrosis in other species.
Ketoprofen 2 mg/kg IV, IM q24 h 47, 48 Red deer (Cervus elaphus), WTD Y
Meloxicam

0.2 mg/kg SQ q24 h


0.5mg/kg IV, IM, SQ, PO q72h

 47, 49–51 Reindeer (Rangifer tarandus), WTD, Red deer (Cervus elaphus) Y Renal papillary necrosis has been observed in white-tailed deer in a case where multiple non-steroidal anti-inflammatories were used.

Table 34.4 Glucocorticoids.

























Pharmacologically active agent Dose rate, delivery route and dosing interval Evidence base and references Species described Useable in food-producing animals Comments
Dexamethasone (as dexamethasone sodium phosphate) 0.025–0.5 mg/kg IV, IM, SQ, PO 52–54 White-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), Black-tailed deer (Odocoileus heinionus), Reindeer (Rangifer tarandus) Y Intravenous use should only be considered based on formulation. Please refer to the datasheet as applicable to other species to ascertain the safest route of administration.
Dexamethasone (as dexamethasone phenylpropionate) 0.05 mg/kg IM   N/A Y Often found in combination with dexamethasone sodium phosphate long-acting formulation.

While other medicines described in this formulary may be administered at a specific dose rate to achieve an effect, sedation and anaesthesia are more contextually dependent on animal environment, excitation levels, health status, activity to be performed and myriad other factors. Additionally, different species will respond to each agent in a different manner. Agents are also very commonly combined for synergistic effect. Method of delivery (i.e. hand injection versus remote chemical injection) also affects the efficacy of these medicines. The purpose of this table is to provide an outline of the evidence base of each of these agents and provide a baseline for the development of protocols. For each species, it is advisable to ascertain established effective protocols. For further information, please see Chapter 3. No evidence-base key is included in this section because all dose rates are referenced.


Table 34.5 Sedatives and anaesthetic agents.




















































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Mar 15, 2026 | Posted by in EQUINE MEDICINE | Comments Off on Cervine Formulary

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Pharmacologically active agent Dose rate, delivery route and dosing interval Category Evidence Base Useable in food-producing animals Comments
Detomidine

0.1–0.2 mg/kg IM (fallow, red, combined agent)


0.2–0.4 mg/kg IM (reindeer, sole agent)

 α2 agonist 55–57 Y
Dexmedetomidine

0.035 mg/kg IM (fallow deer, combined agent)


0.03 mg/kg IM (brocket deer, combined agent)

 α2 agonist 58, 59 N
Medetomidine

0.1 mg/kg IM (red deer, combined agent)


0.1 mg/kg IM (fallow deer, combined agent)


0.1–0.15 mg/kg IM (reindeer, combined agent)


0.1 mg/kg IM (axis deer, combined agent)


0.1 mg/kg IM (elk/wapiti, combined agent)


0.15 mg/kg IM (white-tailed deer, combined agent)


0.1–0.2 mg/kg IM (mule deer, combined agent)

 α2 agonist 56, 60–68 N Medetomidine is frequently used in a commercial sedative pre-mixed formulation.
Xylazine

2–3 mg/kg IM (red deer, combined agent)


1–1.5 mg/kg IM (red deer, sole agent)


1.5–2 mg/kg IM (fallow deer, combined agent)


3 mg/kg IM (Axis, combined agent)


0.5–1 mg/kg IM (elk/wapiti, sole or combined agent)


7.3 mg/kg IM (water deer, combined agent)


1.1–3 mg/kg IM (roe deer, combined agent)

 α2 agonist 56, 58, 68–73 Y Significant variation in α2 dose rate is dependent on hand injection versus. remote chemical injection. Approximately half the dose required for hand injection. Most dose rates stated here are remote chemical injection.
Butorphanol

0.5–0.6 mg/kg IM (reindeer, combined agent)


0.2 mg/kg IM (elk/wapiti, combined agent)


0.25 mg/kg IM (moose, combined agent)


0.1–0.5 mg/kg IM (white-tailed deer, combined agent)


0.05–0.1 mg/kg IM (red deer combined agent)

 Opioid 62, 64, 74, 75 Y Butorphanol may be used as part of a commercial pre-mixed formulation or in low doses as a synergistic adjunct to other sedative medicines, such as the dose rate listed for red deer.
Etorphine

2.0–4.5 mg IM (red deer, combined agent)


0.3–0.38 mg/kg (fallow deer, combined agent)


4.0 mg IM (white-tailed deer, combined agent)


3.7–4.9 mg IM (reindeer, combined agent)


0.06–0.1 mg/kg (axis, combined agent)


3.36 mg IM (moose, combined agent)

 Opioid 56, 76–81 N