Reptile · Pogona vitticeps · typical adult weight 0.38–0.51 kg
Alfaxalone is dosed at 10–20 mg/kg IM once in bearded dragons, per ,400,430 (table-level citation for Table 4.7; no per-row superscript on this row) — Verified against Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.257 (2026-08-01).. Alfaxalone is used in bearded dragons for Sedation, Anesthetic induction. Routes documented in bearded dragons: IM, IV. A typical adult bearded dragon weighs 0.38–0.51 kg. ExoticRx lists 2 cited dose rules for Alfaxalone in bearded dragons, drawn from published veterinary references. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
US trade names: Alfaxan
| Route | Dose | Frequency | Duration | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IM | 10–20 mg/kg | once | Single dose | Sedation | Moderate | ,400,430 (table-level citation for Table 4.7; no per-row superscript on this row) — Verified against Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.257 (2026-08-01). |
| IV | 5–15 mg/kg | once | Single dose | Anesthetic induction | Moderate | Perrin KL, Bertelsen MF. Intravenous alfaxalone and propofol anesthesia in the bearded dragon (Pogona vitticeps). J Herp Med Surg; 2017:123-126. doi:10.5818/16-01-071.1 — Verified against Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.234 (2026-08-01). |
Need the exact dose for your patient?
These ranges are per kg. Enter your bearded dragon's weight to get the precise dose and draw-up volume — unit and concentration math done for you.
Neuroactive steroid that modulates GABA-A receptors, producing dose-dependent sedation to general anesthesia.
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-specific contraindications and adverse-reaction reports for bearded dragons may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.
Alfaxalone dose ranges in bearded dragons, with cited source references: IM 10–20 mg/kg once; IV 5–15 mg/kg once. Reference ranges from cited sources — verify against current literature before clinical use.
Documented routes for Alfaxalone in bearded dragons: IM, IV.
Cited course lengths for Alfaxalone in bearded dragons include: Single dose. Duration depends on the indication — match it to the specific dose rule in the table above.
Alfaxalone is indicated in bearded dragons for: Sedation, Anesthetic induction.
These are general warnings for Alfaxalone across species; consult the bearded dragon dosing table above for species-specific guidance. 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.
Why a species-specific page? Alfaxalone pharmacokinetics differ across species: dose ranges, intervals, and route preferences are not interchangeable. Cross-extrapolation from canine doses is unsafe in bearded dragons — 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.