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Alfaxalone

Alfaxan

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Sourced from published veterinary references. Awaiting credentialed clinical reviewer — our editorial process.

Drug Class

Anesthetic

Routes

IVIM

Indications

Anaesthesia inductionAnaesthesia induction (chamber alternative)Anesthetic inductionInduction of general anesthesiaMinor procedure sedationRestraintSedationSeizure control (emergency)Short procedure anesthesia (endoscopy)Short procedure sedation (minor)short procedures

Mechanism of Action

Neuroactive steroid that modulates GABA-A receptors, producing dose-dependent sedation to general anesthesia.

Side effects & warnings

Apnea with rapid IV injection — titrate slowly. No analgesic properties. Short shelf life once broached (use within 6 hours unless preserved formulation). Good safety profile in exotic species.

Species with Alfaxalone dosing data (23 dose rules)

Species references:All African Grey Parrot drugsAll African Pygmy Hedgehog drugsAll Ball Python drugsAll Bearded Dragon drugsAll Cat (Domestic) drugsAll Chinchilla drugsAll Dog (Domestic) drugsAll Ferret drugsAll Guinea Pig drugsAll Rabbit (Domestic) drugs

Evidence levels across 23 dose rules

Each ExoticRx dose rule is graded by the strength of its primary evidence — see the editorial process.

Backed by 6 published sources

  • · Carpenter 6e
  • · Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed
  • · ExoticRx 2026 (chinchilla dosing guide); Doss & Mans, Vet Clin Exot Anim 2017
  • · ExoticRx 2026 (ferret dosing guide); Carpenter 6e
  • · ExoticRx 2026 (hedgehog dosing guide); Mori & Hedley 2019
  • · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 9th Ed

Sample dosing (2 of 23 cited rules)

A dog/cat sample is shown here. Cited dosing for all 10 species — reptiles, birds, pocket pets, livestock, and equine — is free on the per-species pages above. Pro adds the weight-based calculator for every species.

SpeciesRouteDoseFrequencyEvidenceSource
Cat (Domestic)IV1–2 mg/kgonceModeratePlumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 9th Ed
Dog (Domestic)IM3–5 mg/kgonceModeratePlumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 9th Ed

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Other formulations of Alfaxalone