Sedation in Guinea Pigs

Pocket Pet · Cavia porcellus · typical adult weight 0.70–1.20 kg

11 cited drugs treat Sedation in guinea pigs: Acepromazine, Alfaxalone, Atropine, Butorphanol, Dexmedetomidine, Diazepam, Ketamine, Ketamine Injectable, Medetomidine, Midazolam, Xylazine.

Pharmacologic sedation for diagnostic procedures, minor surgical interventions, and pre-anaesthetic premedi-cation. α2 agonists (dexmedetomidine, medetomidine), phenothiazines (acepromazine), and benzodiazepines (midazolam) form the backbone of veterinary protocols.

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

Acepromazine(PromAce, Atravet)

Sedative

Route	Dose	Frequency	Indication	Evidence	Source
PO	0.5–5 mg/kg	not stated in source	Sedation / premedication	Moderate	Meredith A. BSAVA Small Animal Formulary: Part B: Exotic Pets, British Small Animal Veterinary Association, Quedgeley, Gloucester, UK; 2015. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.782 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 9.3 (Chemical Restraint/Anesthetic Agents Used in Rodents).Compilation only — we have not located an independent source that prints this figure.

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Alfaxalone(Alfaxan)

Anesthetic

Route	Dose	Frequency	Duration	Indication	Evidence	Source
IM	5 mg/kg	once (sedation)	Single dose	Sedation, short procedures	Moderate	Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed \| Corroborated 2026-07-30: d'Ovidio D et al. Vet Anaesth Analg 2018;45(2):183-189. doi:10.1016/j.vaa.2017.08.004 PMID:29398530 (abstract) — 30 pet guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus), 5 mg/kg IM; same dose in FDA Index MIF 900-031 (Alfaxan Multidose IDX). — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 9.3 (Chemical Restraint/Anesthetic Agents Used in Rodents).
IM	5 mg/kg	once; may require a higher dose	Single dose	Sedation for minor noninvasive procedures / diagnostic imaging (NOT anesthetic induction)	Moderate	Morrissey JM, Carpenter JW / Quesenberry KE, Orcutt CJ, Mans C, eds. Ferrets, Rabbits, and Rodents: Clinical Medicine and Surgery, 4th ed., Elsevier, 2021 - TABLE 37.1 'Injectable PREANESTHETIC, SEDATIVE, AND TRANQUILIZER Drugs (mg/kg) Used in Small Mammals', Guinea Pig column: 'Alfaxalone 5 IM28'. The facing TABLE 37.2 'Injectable ANESTHETIC Drugs and Drug Combinations' prints a DASH for guinea-pig alfaxalone. Prose, printed p.539: 'In guinea pigs, alfaxalone at 5 mg/kg IM induced sedation within 2.7 +/- 0.6 minutes, suitable for diagnostic imaging and other minor noninvasive procedures.' CARPENTER TABLE 9.3 DOES NOT SUPPORT THIS ROW - its only guinea-pig alfaxalone row is 40 mg/kg IM, IP.Compilation only — we have not located an independent source that prints this figure.

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Atropine

Emergency

Route	Dose	Frequency	Duration	Indication	Evidence	Source
IM	0.05–0.1 mg/kg	once	Single dose	Pre-anesthetic	Moderate	Adamcak A, Otten B. Rodent therapeutics. Vet Clin North Am Exot Anim Pract. 2000;3:221-237. / 83. Jepson L. Exotic Animal Medicine: A Quick Reference Guide, WB Saunders, New York, NY; 2009. — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 9.5 (Cardiovascular Agents Used in Rodents).Compilation only — we have not located an independent source that prints this figure.

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Butorphanol(Torbugesic, Torbutrol)

Analgesic

Route	Dose	Frequency	Duration	Indication	Evidence	Source
SC, IM	0.2–2 mg/kg	q2-4h	As needed	Pre-anesthetic sedation	Moderate	Allweiler SI. How to improve anesthesia and analgesia in small mammals. Vet Clin North Am Exot Anim Pract. 2016;19:361-377. / 130. Morrisey JK, Carpenter JW. Formulary. In: Quesenberry KE, Carpenter JW, eds. Ferrets, Rabbits, and Rodents: Clinical Medicine and Surgery, 4th ed., Elsevier, St. Louis, MO; 2021:620-630. doi:10.1016/j.cvex.2016.01.012 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 9.4 (Analgesic Agents Used in Rodents).

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Dexmedetomidine(Dexdomitor, Sileo)

Anesthetic

Route	Dose	Frequency	Duration	Indication	Evidence	Source
IM	0.01–0.05 mg/kg	once	Single dose	Sedation, pre-anesthetic	Moderate	Meredith A. BSAVA Small Animal Formulary: Part B: Exotic Pets, British Small Animal Veterinary Association, Quedgeley, Gloucester, UK; 2015. (Carpenter ref for the guinea-pig ketamine/dexmedetomidine row, refs p.830) — Quesenberry et al., Ferrets, Rabbits and Rodents, 4th Ed, p.551 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 9.20 (Electrocardiographic Measurements in Rodents.71,167). — Carpenter's 6th ed, Table 4.32 (Known and Potential Reptile Toxins.126).Compilation only — we have not located an independent source that prints this figure.

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Diazepam(Valium)

Sedative

Route	Dose	Frequency	Indication	Evidence	Source
IM	0.5–5 mg/kg	not stated in source	Sedation	Moderate	Meredith A. BSAVA Small Animal Formulary: Part B: Exotic Pets, British Small Animal Veterinary Association, Quedgeley, Gloucester, UK; 2015. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.784 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 9.3 (Chemical Restraint/Anesthetic Agents Used in Rodents).Compilation only — we have not located an independent source that prints this figure.

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Ketamine(Ketaset, Vetalar)

Anesthetic

Route	Dose	Frequency	Duration	Indication	Evidence	Source
IM	20–40 mg/kg	once	Single dose	Sedation, anesthesia	Moderate	Morrisey JK, Carpenter JW. Formulary. In: Quesenberry KE, Carpenter JW, eds. Ferrets, Rabbits, and Rodents: Clinical Medicine and Surgery, 4th ed., Elsevier, St. Louis, MO; 2021:620-630. — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 9.3 (Chemical Restraint/Anesthetic Agents Used in Rodents).Compilation only — we have not located an independent source that prints this figure.
IV	5–40 mg/kg	once (single sedation dose)	Single dose	Light sedation (heavy sedation at higher doses) - not sole-agent anesthetic induction	Moderate	Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 9.3 (Chemical Restraint/Anesthetic Agents Used in Rodents).Compilation only — we have not located an independent source that prints this figure.

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Ketamine Injectable(Ketaset, VetaKet)

Neurological

Route	Dose	Frequency	Duration	Indication	Evidence	Source
IM	20–40 mg/kg	IM once	Single dose	Sedation (light to heavy, dose-dependent) - NOT a sole anaesthetic, source states avoid use alone due to high doses needed	Moderate	Morrisey JK, Carpenter JW. Formulary. In: Quesenberry KE, Carpenter JW, eds. Ferrets, Rabbits, and Rodents: Clinical Medicine and Surgery, 4th ed., Elsevier, St. Louis, MO; 2021:620-630. — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 9.3 (Chemical Restraint/Anesthetic Agents Used in Rodents).Compilation only — we have not located an independent source that prints this figure.

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Medetomidine

Uncategorized

Route	Dose	Frequency	Indication	Evidence	Source
IM	0.15 mg/kg	not stated in source	Sedation	Moderate	Bellini L, Banzato T, Contiero B, et al. Evaluation of three medetomidine-based protocols for chemical restraint and sedation for non-painful procedures in companion rats (Rattus norvegicus). Vet J. 2014;200:456-458. / Fehr M, Sassenburg L, Zwart P. Krankheiten der Heimtiere, 8th ed., Schluetersche Verlagsgesellschaft, Hannover, Germany; 2015. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.786 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 9.3 (Chemical Restraint/Anesthetic Agents Used in Rodents).Compilation only — we have not located an independent source that prints this figure.

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Midazolam(Versed)

Anesthetic

Route	Dose	Frequency	Duration	Indication	Evidence	Source
IM	0.5–2 mg/kg	once	Single dose	Pre-anesthetic sedation	Moderate	Wenger S. Anesthesia and analgesia in rabbits and rodents. J Exot Pet Med. 2012;21:7-16. doi:10.1053/j.jepm.2011.11.010 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 9.3 (Chemical Restraint/Anesthetic Agents Used in Rodents).

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Xylazine(Rompun, AnaSed)

Sedative

Route	Dose	Frequency	Indication	Evidence	Source
SC, IM, IP	5–10 mg/kg	not stated (single dose)	Sedation	Weak	Mitchell MA, Tully Jr.T.N, eds. Manual of Exotic Pet Practice, Saunders/Elsevier, St. Louis, MO; 2009. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.788 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 9.3 (Chemical Restraint/Anesthetic Agents Used in Rodents).Compilation only — we have not located an independent source that prints this figure.

Full Xylazine dosing in Guinea Pigs →Calculate for this guinea pig →

All drugs cited for Sedation →All drugs for Guinea Pigs →

Other conditions in Guinea Pigs

Pain Management Bacterial Infections Endoparasites Respiratory Infections Coccidiosis Conjunctivitis Ectoparasites Systemic Hypertension

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.