ExoticRx · exoticrx.com/drugs/dexmedetomidine
US brand names:Dexdomitor, Sileo
Dexmedetomidine is dosed at 0.2 mg/kg IM single dose in argentine tegus, per Bisetto SP, Melo CF, Carregaro AB. Evaluation of sedative and antinociceptive effects of dexmedetomidine, midazolam and dexmedetomidine-midazolam in tegus (Salvator merianae). Vet Anaesth Analg. 2018;45(3):320-328. doi:10.1016/j.vaa.2017.12.004 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29555147/. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
Selective alpha-2 adrenergic agonist. Produces dose-dependent sedation, analgesia, and muscle relaxation via CNS depression.
Profound cardiovascular effects: initial hypertension then hypotension, bradycardia. Avoid in animals with cardiac disease, hepatic or renal disease. Reversible with atipamezole. Vomiting common after IM injection.
Each ExoticRx dose rule is graded by the strength of its primary evidence — see the editorial process.
Dexmedetomidine CRI dose rule from the ExoticRx formulary. Verify against current literature before clinical use; CRI rates differ from bolus dosing and route, dilution, and monitoring matter. Sign in for the complete per-species CRI protocol set.
| Species | Route | Rate | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dog (Domestic) | IV | 0.0005–0.002 mg/kg/hper hour (CRI) | CRI for sedation/analgesia | Weak | BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, 10th ed., Part A: Canine and Feline, Dexmedetomidine, printed p.117 (corpus PDF p.133) — "Perioperative analgesia and rousable sedation: 1-2 ug/kg/h constant rate infusion" — plus Plumb's 10th ed. printed p.370 for the 0.5 ug/kg/hour DMLK rate and 0.72-1 ug/kg/hour post-op CRI. Plumb's ref 44 = Lervik A, Haga HA, Ranheim B, Spadavecchia C. The influence of a continuous rate infusion of dexmedetomidine on the nociceptive withdrawal reflex and temporal summation during isoflurane anaesthesia in dogs. Vet Anaesth Analg. — SOURCE EDITION: BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, Part A — Canine and Feline — ISBN 9781910443705, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9781910443705; Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook — ISBN 9781394172207, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9781394172207 |
A dog/cat sample is shown here. Cited dosing for all 17 species — reptiles, birds, pocket pets, livestock, and equine — is free on the per-species pages above. Pro adds the weight-based calculator for every species.
| Species | Route | Dose | Frequency | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dog (Domestic) | IV | 0.0005–0.002 mg/kg/h | per hour (CRI) | Weak | BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, 10th ed., Part A: Canine and Feline, Dexmedetomidine, printed p.117 (corpus PDF p.133) — "Perioperative analgesia and rousable sedation: 1-2 ug/kg/h constant rate infusion" — plus Plumb's 10th ed. printed p.370 for the 0.5 ug/kg/hour DMLK rate and 0.72-1 ug/kg/hour post-op CRI. Plumb's ref 44 = Lervik A, Haga HA, Ranheim B, Spadavecchia C. The influence of a continuous rate infusion of dexmedetomidine on the nociceptive withdrawal reflex and temporal summation during isoflurane anaesthesia in dogs. Vet Anaesth Analg. — SOURCE EDITION: BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, Part A — Canine and Feline — ISBN 9781910443705, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9781910443705; Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook — ISBN 9781394172207, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9781394172207 |
| Dog (Domestic) | OTM | 0.125 mg/m2 | PRN |
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View PlansSource citations and evidence levels available on the live page. Reference only — verify against current literature before clinical use.
Species references:All African Pygmy Hedgehog drugsAll Argentine Tegu drugsAll Ball Python drugsAll Bearded Dragon drugsAll Blue-tongue Skink drugsAll Budgerigar drugsAll Cat (Domestic) drugsAll Chinchilla drugsAll Dog (Domestic) drugsAll Domestic Pigeon drugsAll Eastern Box Turtle drugsAll Ferret drugsAll Guinea Pig drugsAll Leopard Gecko drugsAll Prairie Dog drugsAll Rabbit (Domestic) drugsAll Sulcata Tortoise drugs
CRI for sedation/analgesia
| SILEO - Dexmedetomidine Gel [US Product Label for Dogs]. Zoetis, Inc; 2017. https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=8113cc85-cd1e-4edc-b933-51bdbd1d8b64 — Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.396 (2026-08-01). — Plumb's 10th ed (held) printed p.367, Dexmedetomidine monograph spanning p.367-371; 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 |