Pocket Pet · Mustela putorius furo · typical adult weight 0.60–2.00 kg
Acepromazine is dosed at 0.1–0.5 mg/kg SC, IM once (premedication/sedation) in ferrets, per Ko JC, Heaton-Jones TG, Nicklin CF, et al. Comparison of sedative and cardiorespiratory effects of diazepam, acepromazine, and xylazine in ferrets. J Am Anim Hosp Assoc. 1998;34:234-241. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.939 doi:10.5326/15473317-34-3-234 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 11.5 (Chemical Restraint/Anesthetic Agents Used in Ferrets). The copy held is an ebook conversion with no printed page numbers, so the table — not the page — is the citable location. — SOURCE EDITION: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — ISBN 9780323833929, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323833929. Acepromazine is used in ferrets for Sedation; preanesthetic. Routes documented in ferrets: SC, IM. A typical adult ferret weighs 0.60–2.00 kg. ExoticRx lists 1 cited dose rule for Acepromazine in ferrets, drawn from published veterinary references. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
US trade names: PromAce, Atravet
| Route | Dose | Frequency | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SC, IM | 0.1–0.5 mg/kg | once (premedication/sedation) | Sedation; preanesthetic | Moderate | Ko JC, Heaton-Jones TG, Nicklin CF, et al. Comparison of sedative and cardiorespiratory effects of diazepam, acepromazine, and xylazine in ferrets. J Am Anim Hosp Assoc. 1998;34:234-241. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.939 doi:10.5326/15473317-34-3-234 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 11.5 (Chemical Restraint/Anesthetic Agents Used in Ferrets). The copy held is an ebook conversion with no printed page numbers, so the table — not the page — is the citable location. — SOURCE EDITION: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — ISBN 9780323833929, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323833929 |
Every held source for this drug and species, as printed. Where they differ, both are shown — the choice is yours, not ours.
| Dose (mg/kg) | Route | Source | As printed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.2–0.5 | IM | BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, 10th ed — Part B (Exotic Pets)p.16 | 0.2-0.5 mg/kg i.m., s.c., p.o. |
| 0.1–0.25 | SC | Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th edTable 11.5 | 0.1-0.25 mg/kg SC, IM,32 |
| 0.1–0.5 | SC | Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th edTable 11.5 | 0.1-0.5 mg/kg SC, IM |
| 0.2–0.5 | SC | Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th edTable 11.5 | 0.2-0.5 mg/kg SC, IM |
Figures are transcribed from the cited page or table of each held edition and are shown for reference only. They are not dose recommendations, they do not feed the calculator, and none has been reviewed by a veterinarian.
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These ranges are per kg. Enter your ferret'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 ferrets may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.
Acepromazine dose range in ferrets, with cited source references: SC, IM 0.1–0.5 mg/kg once (premedication/sedation). Reference ranges from cited sources — verify against current literature before clinical use.
Documented routes for Acepromazine in ferrets: SC, IM.
Acepromazine is indicated in ferrets for: Sedation; preanesthetic.
These are general warnings for Acepromazine across species; consult the ferret 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 ferrets — 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.