Reptile · Iguana iguana · typical adult weight 1.00–5.00 kg
Alfaxalone is dosed at 10–30 mg/kg IM single dose (10 mg/kg light sedation, up to 30 mg/ in green iguanas, per Bertelsen MF and Sauer CD (2011) Alfaxalone anaesthesia in the green iguana (Iguana iguana). Veterinary Anaesthesia and Analgesia 38(5), 461-466 — Source: BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, 10th Ed, Part B: Exotic Pets, p.344 — LOCATOR CONVENTION 2026-08-07: the bare 'p.344' in this citation is the PDF index of the held scan, not the printed page. The PRINTED page is p.330; verified by finding the drug named there. If you are holding the book, turn to p.330. — SOURCE EDITION: BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, Part B — Exotic Pets — ISBN 9781910443712, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9781910443712. Alfaxalone is used in green iguanas for Sedation / surgical anaesthesia, Sedation to general anaesthesia. Routes documented in green iguanas: IM. A typical adult green iguana weighs 1.00–5.00 kg. ExoticRx lists 2 cited dose rules for Alfaxalone in green iguanas, drawn from published veterinary references. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
US trade names: Alfaxan
| Route | Dose | Frequency | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IM | 10–30 mg/kg | single dose (10 mg/kg light sedation, up to 30 mg/ | Sedation / surgical anaesthesia | Moderate | Bertelsen MF and Sauer CD (2011) Alfaxalone anaesthesia in the green iguana (Iguana iguana). Veterinary Anaesthesia and Analgesia 38(5), 461-466 — Source: BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, 10th Ed, Part B: Exotic Pets, p.344 — LOCATOR CONVENTION 2026-08-07: the bare 'p.344' in this citation is the PDF index of the held scan, not the printed page. The PRINTED page is p.330; verified by finding the drug named there. If you are holding the book, turn to p.330. — SOURCE EDITION: BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, Part B — Exotic Pets — ISBN 9781910443712, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9781910443712 |
| IM | 10–30 mg/kg | single dose titrated to the depth required | Sedation to general anaesthesia | Strong | Bertelsen MF, Sauer CD. Alfaxalone anaesthesia in the green iguana (Iguana iguana). Vet Anaesth Analg. 2011;38(5):461-466. doi:10.1111/j.1467-2995.2011.00640.x https://europepmc.org/abstract/MED/21831051 |
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.
| Dose (mg/kg) | Route | Source | As printed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5–9 | IV | BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, 10th ed — Part B (Exotic Pets)p.23 | 5-9 mg/kg i.v., intraosseous for induction (light sedation) up to 30 mg/kg i.m. for surgical anaest |
| 30 | IM | BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, 10th ed — Part B (Exotic Pets)p.23 | /kg i.v., intraosseous for induction (light sedation) up to 30 mg/kg i.m. for surgical anaesthesia. Effects are dependent on species and temperature |
| 10 | IM | BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, 10th ed — Part B (Exotic Pets)p.23 | 10 mg/kg i.m. or 5 mg/kg i.v. (for sufficient sedation to allow intubation) |
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These ranges are per kg. Enter your green iguana'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 green iguanas may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.
Alfaxalone dose ranges in green iguanas, with cited source references: IM 10–30 mg/kg single dose (10 mg/kg light sedation, up to 30 mg/; IM 10–30 mg/kg single dose titrated to the depth required. Reference ranges from cited sources — verify against current literature before clinical use.
Documented routes for Alfaxalone in green iguanas: IM.
Alfaxalone is indicated in green iguanas for: Sedation / surgical anaesthesia, Sedation to general anaesthesia.
These are general warnings for Alfaxalone across species; consult the green iguana 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 green iguanas — 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.
| 5 |
| IV |
| BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, 10th ed — Part B (Exotic Pets)p.23 |
| 10 mg/kg i.m. or 5 mg/kg i.v. (for sufficient sedation to allow intubation) |
| 15 | IM | Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th edTable 4.5 | 15 mg/kg IM |
| 3 | IV | Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th edTable 4.5 | 3 mg/kg IV |
| 6–9 | IV | Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th edTable 4.5 | 6-9 mg/kg IV, or 9- 15 mg/kg IM |
| 9–15 | IM | Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th edTable 4.5 | 6-9 mg/kg IV, or 9- 15 mg/kg IM |
| 6–15 | IM | Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th edTable 4.5 | 6-15 mg/kg IM, IV |
| 9 | IV | Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th edTable 4.5 | 9 mg/kg IV |
| 6–9 | IV | Mader's Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery, 3rd edTable 127.4 | 6-9 mg/kg IV, or 9-15 mg/kg IM182 Most species/good muscle relaxation; variable results; drug requires more evaluation; may have violent recovery;198don’t use within 10 days of DMS |
| 9–15 | IV | Mader's Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery, 3rd edTable 127.4 | 6-9 mg/kg IV, or 9-15 mg/kg IM182 Most species/good muscle relaxation; variable results; drug requires more evaluation; may have violent recovery;198don’t use within 10 days of DMS |
| 6–15 | IM | Mader's Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery, 3rd edTable 127.4 | 6-15 mg/kg IM, IV298 Most species |
| 9 | — | Mader's Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery, 3rd edTable 127.4 | 9 mg/kg IV290 Snakes, lizards/induction; not effective for blotched blue-tongued skinks |
| 15 | — | Mader's Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery, 3rd edTable 127.4 | 15 mg/kg IM229 Lizards, chelonians/induction, 35-40 min; duration, 15-35 min; good muscle relaxation; variable results |
| 3 | — | Mader's Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery, 3rd edTable 127.4 | 3 mg/kg IV252 Crocodilians/induction, but unpredictable results |
| 5–25 | IM | Mader's Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery, 3rd edTable 128.4 | 5-25 mg/kg IM (Lennox, Proc ARAV, 2013, pp 66-68) Most species/recommend starting at lower dose (5-10 mg/kg) and titrating up |
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.