Pocket Pet · Oryctolagus cuniculus · typical adult weight 1.00–5.00 kg
Alfaxalone is dosed at 3–5 mg/kg IM once in rabbits, per Huynh M, Poumeyrol S, Pignon C, et al. Intramuscular administration of alfaxalone for sedation in rabbits. Vet Rec. 2015;176:255-260. doi:10.1136/vr.102522 — Verified against Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.855 (2026-08-01).. Alfaxalone is used in rabbits for Minor procedure sedation, Sedation, Anesthetic induction, Short procedure anesthesia (endoscopy). Routes documented in rabbits: IM, IV. A typical adult rabbit weighs 1.00–5.00 kg. ExoticRx lists 4 cited dose rules for Alfaxalone in rabbits, drawn from published veterinary references. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
US trade names: Alfaxan
| Route | Dose | Frequency | Duration | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IM | 3–5 mg/kg | once | Single dose | Minor procedure sedation | Moderate | Huynh M, Poumeyrol S, Pignon C, et al. Intramuscular administration of alfaxalone for sedation in rabbits. Vet Rec. 2015;176:255-260. — Verified against Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.855 (2026-08-01). |
| IM | 3–5 mg/kg | once | Single dose | Sedation | Moderate | Huynh M, Poumeyrol S, Pignon C, et al. Intramuscular administration of alfaxalone for sedation in rabbits. Vet Rec. 2015;176:255-260. doi:10.1136/vr.102522 — Verified against Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.855 (2026-08-01). |
| IV | 2–4 mg/kg | once | Single induction dose | Anesthetic induction | Moderate | Grint NJ, Smith HE, Senior JM. Clinical evaluation of alfaxalone in cyclodextrin for the induction of anaesthesia in rabbits. Vet Rec. 2008;163:395-396. doi:10.1136/vr.163.13.395; Pignon C. Personal communication; 2016. — Verified against Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.855 (2026-08-01). |
| IV | 2–3 mg/kg | once | Single dose; top up 0.5-1 mg/kg | Short procedure anesthesia (endoscopy) | Moderate | Grint NJ, Smith HE, Senior JM. Clinical evaluation of alfaxalone in cyclodextrin for the induction of anaesthesia in rabbits. Vet Rec. 2008;163:395-396. doi:10.1136/vr.163.13.395 — Verified against Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.855 (2026-08-01). |
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These ranges are per kg. Enter your rabbit'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 rabbits may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.
Alfaxalone dose ranges in rabbits, with cited source references: IM 3–5 mg/kg once; IM 3–5 mg/kg once; IV 2–4 mg/kg once; IV 2–3 mg/kg once. Reference ranges from cited sources — verify against current literature before clinical use.
Documented routes for Alfaxalone in rabbits: IM, IV.
Cited course lengths for Alfaxalone in rabbits include: Single dose; Single induction dose; Single dose; top up 0.5-1 mg/kg. Duration depends on the indication — match it to the specific dose rule in the table above.
Alfaxalone is indicated in rabbits for: Minor procedure sedation, Sedation, Anesthetic induction, Short procedure anesthesia (endoscopy).
These are general warnings for Alfaxalone across species; consult the rabbit 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 rabbits — 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.