General Anesthesia in Rabbits

Pocket Pet · Oryctolagus cuniculus · typical adult weight 1.00–5.00 kg

6 cited drugs treat General Anesthesia in rabbits: Alfaxalone, Alfaxalone Injectable, Ketamine, Ketamine Injectable, Propofol, Propofol Injectable.

Induction and maintenance of general anaesthesia. Injectable induction with ketamine, propofol, alfaxalone, or etomidate; inhalational maintenance with isoflurane or sevoflurane. Species-specific airway anatomy and thermoregulation drive plan choice.

The overview above describes General Anesthesia across species; the citations below are the ExoticRx dose rules scoped to rabbits — a reference list, not new species-specific clinical guidance.

Alfaxalone(Alfaxan)

Anesthetic

Route	Dose	Frequency	Duration	Indication	Evidence	Source
IV	2–4 mg/kg	once	Single induction dose	Anesthetic induction	Moderate	Grint NJ, Smith HE, Senior JM. Clinical evaluation of alfaxalone in cyclodextrin for the induction of anaesthesia in rabbits. Vet Rec. 2008;163:395-396. doi:10.1136/vr.163.13.395; Pignon C. Personal communication; 2016. — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 10.4 (Chemical Restraint/Sedative/Anesthetic/Analgesic Agents Used in Rabbits.a,b).

Full Alfaxalone dosing in Rabbits →Calculate for this rabbit →

Alfaxalone Injectable(Alfaxan)

Neurological

Route	Dose	Frequency	Duration	Indication	Evidence	Source
IV	3–5 mg/kg	IV to effect	Single dose	Anesthesia induction	Strong	Marin P, Belda E, Laredo FG, et al. Pharmacokinetics and sedative effects of alfaxalone with and without dexmedetomidine in rabbits. Res Vet Sci. 2020;129:6-12. doi:10.1016/j.rvsc.2019.12.015 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 10.4 (Chemical Restraint/Sedative/Anesthetic/Analgesic Agents Used in Rabbits.a,b).

Full Alfaxalone Injectable dosing in Rabbits →Calculate for this rabbit →

Ketamine(Ketaset, Vetalar)

Anesthetic

Route	Dose	Frequency	Duration	Indication	Evidence	Source
IM	10–35 mg/kg	once	Single dose	Sedation, anesthetic induction	Strong	GillettCS. Selected drug dosages and clinical reference data. In: Manning PJ, Ringler DH, Newcomer CE, eds. The Biology of the Laboratory Rabbit, 2nd ed., Academic Press, San Diego, CA; 1994:467-472. doi:10.1016/b978-0-12-469235-0.50028-2 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 10.4 (Chemical Restraint/Sedative/Anesthetic/Analgesic Agents Used in Rabbits.a,b).
IV	5–15 mg/kg	once, IV incrementally to effect	Single induction dose	Anesthetic induction	Moderate	Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed \| Corroborated 2026-07-30: Luca GC et al. Vet Anaesth Analg 2020;47(3):334-340. doi:10.1016/j.vaa.2020.02.002 PMID:32222343 — rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus), ketamine 5 mg/kg IV over 5 min (abstract).

Full Ketamine dosing in Rabbits →Calculate for this rabbit →

Ketamine Injectable(Ketaset, VetaKet)

Neurological

Route	Dose	Frequency	Duration	Indication	Evidence	Source
IM	15–35 mg/kg	IM once	Single dose	Anesthesia induction	Strong	GillettCS. Selected drug dosages and clinical reference data. In: Manning PJ, Ringler DH, Newcomer CE, eds. The Biology of the Laboratory Rabbit, 2nd ed., Academic Press, San Diego, CA; 1994:467-472. doi:10.1016/b978-0-12-469235-0.50028-2 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 10.4 (Chemical Restraint/Sedative/Anesthetic/Analgesic Agents Used in Rabbits.a,b).

Full Ketamine Injectable dosing in Rabbits →Calculate for this rabbit →

Propofol(Rapinovet, PropoFlo)

Anesthetic

Route	Dose	Frequency	Duration	Indication	Evidence	Source
IV	6–10 mg/kg	To effect	Single induction	Induction of general anesthesia	Moderate	Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th ed (2023) ed. — Plumb's 10th ed printed p.1080, Propofol monograph spanning p.1080-1085. — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 10.4 (Chemical Restraint/Sedative/Anesthetic/Analgesic Agents Used in Rabbits.a,b).Compilation only — we have not located an independent source that prints this figure.

Full Propofol dosing in Rabbits →Calculate for this rabbit →

Propofol Injectable(Rapinovet, PropoFlo)

Neurological

Route	Dose	Frequency	Duration	Indication	Evidence	Source
IV	3–6 mg/kg	IV to effect	Single dose	Anesthesia induction	Weak	Ferrets, Rabbits and Rodents: Clinical Medicine and Surgery, 4th ed., Table 37.2 'Injectable Anesthetic Drugs and Drug Combinations (mg/kg) Used in Small Mammals', printed p.540, Rabbit column: 'Propofol 3-6 IV'Compilation only — we have not located an independent source that prints this figure.

Full Propofol Injectable dosing in Rabbits →Calculate for this rabbit →

All drugs cited for General Anesthesia →All drugs for Rabbits →

Other conditions in Rabbits

Pain Management Coccidiosis Sedation GI Stasis (Ileus)Bacterial Infections Dermatophytosis (Ringworm)Ectoparasites GI Ulceration

Sourced from published veterinary references; awaiting credentialed clinical reviewer. See our editorial process. Reference only — not veterinary advice. Verify against current literature before clinical use.