Pocket Pet · Rattus norvegicus var. domestica · typical adult weight 0.25–0.70 kg
Alfaxalone is dosed at 2–5 mg/kg IV single induction dose in pet rats, per Lau C, Ranasinghe MG, Shiels I, et al. Plasma pharmacokinetics of alfaxalone after a single intraperitoneal or intravenous injection of Alfaxan® in rats. J Vet Pharmacol Ther. 2013;36:516-520. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.782 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 9.3 (Chemical Restraint/Anesthetic Agents Used in Rodents). The copy held is an ebook conversion with no printed page numbers, so the table — not the page — is the citable location. — SOURCE EDITION: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — ISBN 9780323833929, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323833929. Alfaxalone is used in pet rats for Anesthesia induction. Routes documented in pet rats: IV. A typical adult pet rat weighs 0.25–0.70 kg. ExoticRx lists 1 cited dose rule for Alfaxalone in pet rats, 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 | single induction dose | Anesthesia induction | Weak | Lau C, Ranasinghe MG, Shiels I, et al. Plasma pharmacokinetics of alfaxalone after a single intraperitoneal or intravenous injection of Alfaxan® in rats. J Vet Pharmacol Ther. 2013;36:516-520. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.782 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 9.3 (Chemical Restraint/Anesthetic Agents Used in Rodents). The copy held is an ebook conversion with no printed page numbers, so the table — not the page — is the citable location. — 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.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2–5 | IV | BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, 10th ed — Part B (Exotic Pets)p.23 | 2-5 mg/kg i.p., i.v. |
| 2–3 | IM | BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, 10th ed — Part B (Exotic Pets)p.23 | 2-3 mg/kg i.m. following premedication with opioid and midazolam |
| 20 | IP | Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th edTable 9.3 | 20 mg/kg IP 20 mg/kg IM or 120 mg/kg IP |
| 20 | IM |
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These ranges are per kg. Enter your pet rat'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 pet rats may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.
Alfaxalone dose range in pet rats, with cited source references: IV 2–5 mg/kg single induction dose. Reference ranges from cited sources — verify against current literature before clinical use.
Documented routes for Alfaxalone in pet rats: IV.
Alfaxalone is indicated in pet rats for: Anesthesia induction.
These are general warnings for Alfaxalone across species; consult the pet rat 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 pet rats — 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.
| Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th edTable 9.3 |
| 20 mg/kg IP 20 mg/kg IM or 120 mg/kg IP |
| 2–5 | IV | Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th edTable 9.3 | 2-5 mg/kg IV |
| 25–45 | IP | Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th edTable 9.3 | 25-45 mg/kg IP |
| 120 | IP | Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th edTable 9.3 | 20 mg/kg IP 20 mg/kg IM or 120 mg/kg IP |
| 10 | IV | Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th edTable 9.3 | 10 mg/kg/h IV as CRI |
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.