Pocket Pet · Mustela putorius furo · typical adult weight 0.60–2.00 kg
Detomidine is dosed at 2–4 mg/m2 body surface area (NOT mg/kg) oral transmucosal not stated in source in ferrets, per Phillips BE, Harms CA, Messenger KM. Oral transmucosal detomidine gel for the sedation of the domestic ferret (Mustela putorius furo). J Exot Pet Med. 2015;24:446-454. — Mined from Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.940 (2026-08-01, PENDING REVIEW). Detomidine is used in ferrets for Sedation. Routes documented in ferrets: oral transmucosal. A typical adult ferret weighs 0.60–2.00 kg. ExoticRx lists 1 cited dose rule for Detomidine in ferrets, drawn from published veterinary references. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
US trade names: Dormosedan
| Route | Dose | Frequency | Duration | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| oral transmucosal | 2–4 mg/m2 body surface area (NOT mg/kg) | not stated in source | none printed; single sedation event, no repeat interval given | Sedation | Moderate | Phillips BE, Harms CA, Messenger KM. Oral transmucosal detomidine gel for the sedation of the domestic ferret (Mustela putorius furo). J Exot Pet Med. 2015;24:446-454. — Mined from Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.940 (2026-08-01, PENDING REVIEW) |
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These ranges are per kg. Enter your ferret'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 ferrets may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.
Detomidine dose range in ferrets, with cited source references: oral transmucosal 2–4 mg/m2 body surface area (NOT mg/kg) not stated in source. Reference ranges from cited sources — verify against current literature before clinical use.
Documented routes for Detomidine in ferrets: oral transmucosal.
Cited course lengths for Detomidine in ferrets include: none printed; single sedation event, no repeat interval given. Duration depends on the indication — match it to the specific dose rule in the table above.
Detomidine is indicated in ferrets for: Sedation.
These are general warnings for Detomidine across species; consult the ferret 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 ferrets — 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.