Acepromazine for Dog
Dog · Canis lupus familiaris · typical adult weight 2.00–80.00 kg
Acepromazine is used in dog for Pre-anesthetic sedation, Mild sedation for travel/noise phobia. Routes documented in dog: IM, PO. A typical adult dog weighs 2.00–80.00 kg. ExoticRx lists 2 cited dose rules for Acepromazine in dog, drawn from published veterinary references. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
Trade names: PromAce, Atravet
Dose ranges
| Route | Dose | Frequency | Duration | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IM | 0.01–0.05 mg/kg | Single dose | Pre-anesthetic | Pre-anesthetic sedation | Strong | Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 9th Ed |
| PO | 0.5–2 mg/kg | q6-8h as needed | Event-based | Mild sedation for travel/noise phobia | Moderate | Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 9th Ed |
Absolute dose ceiling, regardless of body weight: 3 mg total (IM).
Need the exact dose for your patient?
These ranges are per kg. Enter your dog's weight to get the precise dose and draw-up volume — unit and concentration math done for you.
Mechanism of action
Blocks dopamine D2 receptors in the CNS, producing sedation and anxiolysis. Also has alpha-1 adrenergic blocking properties causing vasodilation.
Side effects & warnings
Hypotension (alpha blockade) — avoid in hypovolemic patients. DO NOT use in giant breeds (boxers extremely sensitive — exaggerated hypotension). No analgesic effect. Lowers seizure threshold. Not reversible.
Species-specific contraindications and adverse-reaction reports for dog may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.
Other Sedative drugs with dog dosing
Acepromazine dosing in other species
Why a species-specific page? Acepromazine pharmacokinetics differ across species: dose ranges, intervals, and route preferences are not interchangeable. Cross-extrapolation from canine doses is unsafe in dog — the rules above are the citations specific to this species, not generic recommendations.
Sourced from published veterinary references; awaiting credentialed clinical reviewer. See our editorial process. Reference only — not veterinary advice.