Dog · Canis lupus familiaris · typical adult weight 2.00–80.00 kg
Acepromazine is dosed at 0.01–0.05 mg/kg IM Single dose in dogs, per Allerton F, ed. BSAVA Small Animal Formulary Part A: Canine and Feline. 10th ed. BSAVA; 2020. — Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.33 (2026-08-01).. Acepromazine is used in dogs for Pre-anesthetic sedation, Mild sedation for travel/noise phobia. Routes documented in dogs: IM, PO. A typical adult dog weighs 2.00–80.00 kg. ExoticRx lists 2 cited dose rules for Acepromazine in dogs, drawn from published veterinary references. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
US trade names: PromAce, Atravet
| Route | Dose | Frequency | Duration | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IM | 0.01–0.05 mg/kgmax 3 mg total | Single dose | Pre-anesthetic | Pre-anesthetic sedation | Strong | Allerton F, ed. BSAVA Small Animal Formulary Part A: Canine and Feline. 10th ed. BSAVA; 2020. — Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.33 (2026-08-01). |
| PO | 0.5–2 mg/kg | q6-8h as needed | Event-based | Mild sedation for travel/noise phobia | Moderate | PROMACE - acepromazine maleate tablet [US product label]. Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health USA, Inc; 2019. https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=11ee8981-46eb-4791-8e40-727c991341fe — Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.33 (2026-08-01). |
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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.
Blocks dopamine D2 receptors in the CNS, producing sedation and anxiolysis. Also has alpha-1 adrenergic blocking properties causing vasodilation.
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 dogs may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.
Acepromazine dose ranges in dogs, with cited source references: IM 0.01–0.05 mg/kg Single dose; PO 0.5–2 mg/kg q6-8h as needed. Reference ranges from cited sources — verify against current literature before clinical use.
Documented routes for Acepromazine in dogs: IM, PO.
Cited course lengths for Acepromazine in dogs include: Pre-anesthetic; Event-based. Duration depends on the indication — match it to the specific dose rule in the table above.
Acepromazine is indicated in dogs for: Pre-anesthetic sedation, Mild sedation for travel/noise phobia.
These are general warnings for Acepromazine across species; consult the dog dosing table above for species-specific guidance. 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.
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 dogs — 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.