Alfaxalone for Dogs

Dog · Canis lupus familiaris · typical adult weight 2.00–80.00 kg

Alfaxalone is dosed at 0.5–1.5 mg/kg IM once in dogs, per Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th ed (2023, held copy; the original seed cited the 9th, which was never consulted) — Plumb's 10th ed (held) printed p.29, Alfaxalone monograph spanning p.29-34; page located 2026-08-05 from the book's own running heads, verified to name the drug in its body text. — SOURCE EDITION: Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook — ISBN 9781394172207, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9781394172207. Alfaxalone is used in dogs for Short procedure sedation (minor), Sedation, Induction of general anesthesia. Routes documented in dogs: IM, IV. A typical adult dog weighs 2.00–80.00 kg. ExoticRx lists 3 cited dose rules for Alfaxalone in dogs, drawn from published veterinary references. Verify against current literature before clinical use.

US trade names: Alfaxan

Dose ranges

Route	Dose	Frequency	Duration	Indication	Evidence	Source
IM	0.5–1.5 mg/kg	once	Single dose; top up as needed	Short procedure sedation (minor)	Strong

What each reference text prints

Every held source for this drug and species, as printed. Where they differ, both are shown — the choice is yours, not ours.

The sources disagree for this combination. The ranges below do not overlap on a comparable route. This is not an error in one of them — published veterinary references differ, and reconciling them for a particular patient is a clinical judgement.

Printed doses in mg/kg for this drug and species, by source
Dose (mg/kg)	Route	Source	As printed
3	IV	BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, 10th ed — Part A (Canine and Feline)p.26	3 mg/kg i.v. in unpremedicated dogs; 2 mg/kg i.v. in premedicated dogs, although commonly lower
2	IV	BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, 10th ed — Part A (Canine and Feline)p.26	3 mg/kg i.v. in unpremedicated dogs; 2 mg/kg i.v. in premedicated dogs, although commonly lower doses can be used.
1–1.5	—	BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, 10th ed — Part A (Canine and Feline)p.26	s a continuous rate infusion or top-up boluses of 1-1.5 mg/kg q10min

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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-specific contraindications and adverse-reaction reports for dogs may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.

Frequently asked questions

What is the dose of Alfaxalone for Dogs?

Alfaxalone dose ranges in dogs, with cited source references: IM 0.5–1.5 mg/kg once; IM 3–5 mg/kg once; IV 1–3 mg/kg once. Reference ranges from cited sources — verify against current literature before clinical use.

How is Alfaxalone administered in Dogs?

Documented routes for Alfaxalone in dogs: IM, IV.

How long is Alfaxalone given in Dogs?

Cited course lengths for Alfaxalone in dogs include: Single dose; top up as needed; Single dose; Single induction dose; titrate to effect. Duration depends on the indication — match it to the specific dose rule in the table above.

What conditions does Alfaxalone treat in Dogs?

Alfaxalone is indicated in dogs for: Short procedure sedation (minor), Sedation, Induction of general anesthesia.

What are the side effects of Alfaxalone in Dogs?

These are general warnings for Alfaxalone across species; consult the dog 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 dogs — the rules above are the citations specific to this species, not generic recommendations.

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.