Pocket Pet · Mustela putorius furo · typical adult weight 0.60–2.00 kg
Alfaxalone is dosed at 2–5 mg/kg IV Once in ferrets, per Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed. | Open-access corroboration 2026-07-20: doi:10.1177/0023677214539150 PMID:24939905 — ferrets (Mustela putorius furo), 5 mg/kg IV (intravenously) (peer_reviewed). — SOURCE EDITION: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — ISBN 9780323833929, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323833929. Alfaxalone is used in ferrets for Anaesthesia induction. Routes documented in ferrets: IV. A typical adult ferret weighs 0.60–2.00 kg. ExoticRx lists 1 cited dose rule for Alfaxalone in ferrets, drawn from published veterinary references. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
US trade names: Alfaxan
| Route | Dose | Frequency | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IV | 2–5 mg/kg | Once | Anaesthesia induction | Moderate | Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed. | Open-access corroboration 2026-07-20: doi:10.1177/0023677214539150 PMID:24939905 — ferrets (Mustela putorius furo), 5 mg/kg IV (intravenously) (peer_reviewed). — 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | IV | Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th edTable 11.5 | 5 mg/kg IV |
| 5–15 | IM | Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th edTable 11.5 | 5-15 mg/kg 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.
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 ferrets may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.
Alfaxalone dose range in ferrets, with cited source references: IV 2–5 mg/kg Once. Reference ranges from cited sources — verify against current literature before clinical use.
Documented routes for Alfaxalone in ferrets: IV.
Alfaxalone is indicated in ferrets for: Anaesthesia induction.
These are general warnings for Alfaxalone across species; consult the ferret 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 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.