Reptile · Centrochelys sulcata · typical adult weight 1.00–40.00 kg
Alfaxalone is dosed at 5 mg/kg IV once (induction) in sulcata tortoises, per Knotek Z. Alfaxalone as an induction agent for anaesthesia in terrapins and tortoises. Vet Rec. 2014;175:327-329. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.235 doi:10.1136/vr.102486 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 4.5 (Chemical Restraint/Anesthetic Agents Used in Reptiles.a). 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 sulcata tortoises for Anesthetic induction. Routes documented in sulcata tortoises: IV. A typical adult sulcata tortoise weighs 1.00–40.00 kg. ExoticRx lists 1 cited dose rule for Alfaxalone in sulcata tortoises, drawn from published veterinary references. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
US trade names: Alfaxan
| Route | Dose | Frequency | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IV | 5 mg/kg | once (induction) | Anesthetic induction | Moderate | Knotek Z. Alfaxalone as an induction agent for anaesthesia in terrapins and tortoises. Vet Rec. 2014;175:327-329. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.235 doi:10.1136/vr.102486 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 4.5 (Chemical Restraint/Anesthetic Agents Used in Reptiles.a). 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | IV | BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, 10th ed — Part B (Exotic Pets)p.23 | 5 mg/kg i.v. d or 10 mg/kg i.m. (light sedation) up to 20 mg/kg i.m. for surgical anaesthesia |
| 10 | IM | BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, 10th ed — Part B (Exotic Pets)p.23 | 5 mg/kg i.v. d or 10 mg/kg i.m. (light sedation) up to 20 mg/kg i.m. for surgical anaesthesia |
| 20 | IM | BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, 10th ed — Part B (Exotic Pets)p.23 | 5 mg/kg i.v. d or 10 mg/kg i.m. (light sedation) up to 20 mg/kg i.m. for surgical anaesthesia |
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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 sulcata tortoises may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.
Alfaxalone dose range in sulcata tortoises, with cited source references: IV 5 mg/kg once (induction). Reference ranges from cited sources — verify against current literature before clinical use.
Documented routes for Alfaxalone in sulcata tortoises: IV.
Alfaxalone is indicated in sulcata tortoises for: Anesthetic induction.
These are general warnings for Alfaxalone across species; consult the sulcata tortoise 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 sulcata tortoises — 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.
| 5–9 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 6–9 | IV | Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th edTable 4.5 | 6-9 mg/kg IV, or 9- 15 mg/kg IM |
| 15 | IM | Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th edTable 4.5 | 15 mg/kg IM |
| 5 | IV | Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th edTable 4.5 | 5 mg/kg IV |
| 10–20 | IM | Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th edTable 4.5 | 10-20 mg/kg IM,240,425 |
| 3 | IV | Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th edTable 4.5 | 3 mg/kg IV |
| 0.05 | IM | Mader's Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery, 3rd edTable 127.4 | (Al) 10 mg/kg + (Me) 0.10 mg/kg IM; (Al) 20 mg/kg + (Me) 0.05 mg/kg IM113 Horsfield’s tortoises (males only)/deeper sedation than alfaxalone alone with analgesia |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 24 | — | Mader's Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery, 3rd edTable 127.4 | 24 mg/kg ICe111 Chelonians (red-eared sliders)/surgical anesthesia with good relaxation |
| 5 | — | Mader's Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery, 3rd edTable 127.4 | 5 mg/kg IV170 Turtles, tortoises/induction |
| 10–20 | — | Mader's Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery, 3rd edTable 127.4 | 10-20 mg/kg IM113,164,300 Horsfield’s tortoises (males only)/light to moderate sedation with no to minimal analgesia; red-eared slider turtles/light sedation of short duration; PD |
| 3 | — | Mader's Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery, 3rd edTable 127.4 | 3 mg/kg IV252 Crocodilians/induction, but unpredictable results |
| 10 | IM | Mader's Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery, 3rd edTable 127.4 | (Al) 10 mg/kg + (Me) 0.10 mg/kg IM; (Al) 20 mg/kg + (Me) 0.05 mg/kg IM113 Horsfield’s tortoises (males only)/deeper sedation than alfaxalone alone with analgesia |
| 0.1 | IM | Mader's Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery, 3rd edTable 127.4 | (Al) 10 mg/kg + (Me) 0.10 mg/kg IM; (Al) 20 mg/kg + (Me) 0.05 mg/kg IM113 Horsfield’s tortoises (males only)/deeper sedation than alfaxalone alone with analgesia |
| 20 | IM | Mader's Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery, 3rd edTable 127.4 | (Al) 10 mg/kg + (Me) 0.10 mg/kg IM; (Al) 20 mg/kg + (Me) 0.05 mg/kg IM113 Horsfield’s tortoises (males only)/deeper sedation than alfaxalone alone with analgesia |
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.