Pocket Pet · Cavia porcellus · typical adult weight 0.70–1.20 kg
Alfaxalone is dosed at 5–10 mg/kg IM once in guinea pigs, per Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed | Corroborated 2026-07-30: d'Ovidio D et al. Vet Anaesth Analg 2018;45(2):183-189. doi:10.1016/j.vaa.2017.08.004 PMID:29398530 (abstract) — 30 pet guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus), 5 mg/kg IM; same dose in FDA Index MIF 900-031 (Alfaxan Multidose IDX).. Alfaxalone is used in guinea pigs for Sedation, short procedures. Routes documented in guinea pigs: IM. A typical adult guinea pig weighs 0.70–1.20 kg. ExoticRx lists 1 cited dose rule for Alfaxalone in guinea pigs, drawn from published veterinary references. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
US trade names: Alfaxan
| Route | Dose | Frequency | Duration | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IM | 5–10 mg/kg | once | Single dose | Sedation, short procedures | Moderate | Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed | Corroborated 2026-07-30: d'Ovidio D et al. Vet Anaesth Analg 2018;45(2):183-189. doi:10.1016/j.vaa.2017.08.004 PMID:29398530 (abstract) — 30 pet guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus), 5 mg/kg IM; same dose in FDA Index MIF 900-031 (Alfaxan Multidose IDX). |
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These ranges are per kg. Enter your guinea pig'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 guinea pigs may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.
Alfaxalone dose range in guinea pigs, with cited source references: IM 5–10 mg/kg once. Reference ranges from cited sources — verify against current literature before clinical use.
Documented routes for Alfaxalone in guinea pigs: IM.
Cited course lengths for Alfaxalone in guinea pigs include: Single dose. Duration depends on the indication — match it to the specific dose rule in the table above.
Alfaxalone is indicated in guinea pigs for: Sedation, short procedures.
These are general warnings for Alfaxalone across species; consult the guinea pig 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 guinea pigs — 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.