Pocket Pet · Mustela putorius furo · typical adult weight 0.60–2.00 kg
Alfaxalone is dosed at 10–20 mg/kg IM Once in ferrets, per ExoticRx 2026 (ferret dosing guide); Carpenter 6e. Alfaxalone is used in ferrets for Anaesthesia induction. Routes documented in ferrets: IM, IV. A typical adult ferret weighs 0.60–2.00 kg. ExoticRx lists 2 cited dose rules 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IM | 10–20 mg/kg | Once | Anaesthesia induction | Moderate | ExoticRx 2026 (ferret dosing guide); Carpenter 6e |
| 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). |
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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 ranges in ferrets, with cited source references: IM 10–20 mg/kg Once; IV 2–5 mg/kg Once. Reference ranges from cited sources — verify against current literature before clinical use.
Documented routes for Alfaxalone in ferrets: IM, 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.