Dog · Canis lupus familiaris · typical adult weight 2.00–80.00 kg
Alfaxalone is dosed at 3–5 mg/kg IM once in dogs, per Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 9th Ed. Alfaxalone is used in dogs for Sedation, Induction of general anesthesia, Short procedure sedation (minor). 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
| Route | Dose | Frequency | Duration | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IM | 3–5 mg/kg | once | Single dose | Sedation | Moderate | Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 9th Ed |
| IV | 1–3 mg/kg | once | Single induction dose; titrate to effect | Induction of general anesthesia |
| Alfaxan Multidose - Alfaxalone Injection, Solution [US Product Label]. Jurox Inc.; 2019. https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=6fd00f51-db05-407f-ab80-cba1b6aa9596 — Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.58 (2026-08-01). |
| IV | 0.5–1.5 mg/kg | once | Single dose; top up as needed | Short procedure sedation (minor) | Strong | Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 9th Ed |
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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.
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 dogs may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.
Alfaxalone dose ranges in dogs, with cited source references: IM 3–5 mg/kg once; IV 1–3 mg/kg once; IV 0.5–1.5 mg/kg once. Reference ranges from cited sources — verify against current literature before clinical use.
Documented routes for Alfaxalone in dogs: IM, IV.
Cited course lengths for Alfaxalone in dogs include: Single dose; Single induction dose; titrate to effect; Single dose; top up as needed. Duration depends on the indication — match it to the specific dose rule in the table above.
Alfaxalone is indicated in dogs for: Sedation, Induction of general anesthesia, Short procedure sedation (minor).
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.
Sourced from published veterinary references; awaiting credentialed clinical reviewer. See our editorial process. Reference only — not veterinary advice.