Dog · Canis lupus familiaris · typical adult weight 2.00–80.00 kg
Detomidine is dosed at 0.01–0.04 mg/kg IM Single dose in dogs, per Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th ed (2023, held copy; the original seed cited the 9th, which was never consulted) — Plumb's 10th ed (held) printed p.358, Detomidine monograph spanning p.358-360; page located 2026-08-05 from the book's own running heads, verified to name the drug in its body text. — SOURCE EDITION: Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook — ISBN 9781394172207, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9781394172207 | ORIGINAL SOURCE THE BOOK CITES (2026-08-20): the dose row carries superscript 6 — "0.01 mg/kg IV in combination with metha- ( Be*8o6(08ep(*e+ (eg, diazep" — which resolves in the monograph's own reference list to: Mama KR, Grimsrud K, Snell T, Stanley S. Plasma concentrations, behavioural and physiological effects following intravenous and intramuscular detomidine in horses. Equine Vet J. 2009;41(8):772-777. This records what the handbook attributes the figure to. It is NOT a statement that the reference was read or that it validates the dose.. Detomidine is used in dogs for Sedation (off-label). Routes documented in dogs: IM. A typical adult dog weighs 2.00–80.00 kg. ExoticRx lists 1 cited dose rule for Detomidine in dogs, drawn from published veterinary references. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
US trade names: Dormosedan
| Route | Dose | Frequency | Duration | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IM | 0.01–0.04 mg/kg | Single dose | 30-90 min sedation | Sedation (off-label) | Extrapolated | Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th ed (2023, held copy; the original seed cited the 9th, which was never consulted) — Plumb's 10th ed (held) printed p.358, Detomidine monograph spanning p.358-360; page located 2026-08-05 from the book's own running heads, verified to name the drug in its body text. — SOURCE EDITION: Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook — ISBN 9781394172207, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9781394172207 | ORIGINAL SOURCE THE BOOK CITES (2026-08-20): the dose row carries superscript 6 — "0.01 mg/kg IV in combination with metha- ( Be*8o6(08ep(*e+ (eg, diazep" — which resolves in the monograph's own reference list to: Mama KR, Grimsrud K, Snell T, Stanley S. Plasma concentrations, behavioural and physiological effects following intravenous and intramuscular detomidine in horses. Equine Vet J. 2009;41(8):772-777. This records what the handbook attributes the figure to. It is NOT a statement that the reference was read or that it validates the dose. |
Every held source for this drug and species, as printed. Where they differ, both are shown — the choice is yours, not ours.
| Dose (mcg/kg) | Route | Source | As printed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10–20 | IV | Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.244 | • 5 mcg/kg IV or 10-20 mcg/kg IM. |
| 35 | — | Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.244 | recumbency: 1.0 mg/m2. (Average dose is 35 mcg/kg.) A high dose of 2-4 mg/m2 |
| 5 | IV | Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.244 | • 5 mcg/kg IV or 10-20 mcg/kg IM. |
| Dose (mg/kg) | Route | Source | As printed |
|---|---|---|---|
Need the exact dose for your patient?
These ranges are per kg. Enter your dog's weight to get the precise dose and draw-up volume — unit and concentration math done for you.
Potent alpha-2 adrenergic agonist providing deep sedation and visceral analgesia. More potent and longer acting than xylazine.
Primarily equine. Profound bradycardia and AV block. Sublingual gel (Dormosedan Gel) for standing sedation in horses. Reversible with atipamezole. Handle with gloves.
Species-specific contraindications and adverse-reaction reports for dogs may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.
Detomidine dose range in dogs, with cited source references: IM 0.01–0.04 mg/kg Single dose. Reference ranges from cited sources — verify against current literature before clinical use.
Documented routes for Detomidine in dogs: IM.
Cited course lengths for Detomidine in dogs include: 30-90 min sedation. Duration depends on the indication — match it to the specific dose rule in the table above.
Detomidine is indicated in dogs for: Sedation (off-label).
These are general warnings for Detomidine across species; consult the dog dosing table above for species-specific guidance. Primarily equine. Profound bradycardia and AV block. Sublingual gel (Dormosedan Gel) for standing sedation in horses. Reversible with atipamezole. Handle with gloves.
Why a species-specific page? Detomidine pharmacokinetics differ across species: dose ranges, intervals, and route preferences are not interchangeable. Cross-extrapolation from canine doses is unsafe in dogs — 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.
| 0.1 |
| IM |
| Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.244 |
| dogs, (approximately 0.1 mL). Reversal with 0.1 mg/kg atipamezole IM. |
| Dose (mg/m2) | Route | Source | As printed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.5 | PO | Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.244 | • Oral mucosal application: mild sedation 0.5 mg/m2; higher sedation and lateral |
| 1 | — | Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.244 | recumbency: 1.0 mg/m2. (Average dose is 35 mcg/kg.) A high dose of 2-4 mg/m2 |
| 2–4 | — | Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.244 | recumbency: 1.0 mg/m2. (Average dose is 35 mcg/kg.) A high dose of 2-4 mg/m2 |
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.