Cat · Felis catus · typical adult weight 2.50–7.00 kg
Dexmedetomidine is dosed at 0.01–0.04 mg/kg IM once in cats, per DEXDOMITOR 0.1 and 0.5 Mg/ML - Dexmedetomidine Hydrochloride Injection, Solution [US Product Label for Dogs and Cats]. Zoetis, Inc; 2013. — Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.397 (2026-08-01).. Dexmedetomidine is used in cats for Sedation, pre-anesthetic. Routes documented in cats: IM, IV. A typical adult cat weighs 2.50–7.00 kg. ExoticRx lists 2 cited dose rules for Dexmedetomidine in cats, drawn from published veterinary references. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
US trade names: Dexdomitor, Sileo
| Route | Dose | Frequency | Duration | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IM | 0.01–0.04 mg/kg | once | Single dose | Sedation, pre-anesthetic | Strong | DEXDOMITOR 0.1 and 0.5 Mg/ML - Dexmedetomidine Hydrochloride Injection, Solution [US Product Label for Dogs and Cats]. Zoetis, Inc; 2013. — Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.397 (2026-08-01). |
| IV | 0.005–0.01 mg/kg | once | Single dose | Sedation, pre-anesthetic | Strong | Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.397 (2026-08-01). |
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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.
Species-specific contraindications and adverse-reaction reports for cats may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.
Dexmedetomidine dose ranges in cats, with cited source references: IM 0.01–0.04 mg/kg once; IV 0.005–0.01 mg/kg once. Reference ranges from cited sources — verify against current literature before clinical use.
Documented routes for Dexmedetomidine in cats: IM, IV.
Cited course lengths for Dexmedetomidine in cats include: Single dose. Duration depends on the indication — match it to the specific dose rule in the table above.
Dexmedetomidine is indicated in cats for: Sedation, pre-anesthetic.
These are general warnings for Dexmedetomidine across species; consult the cat dosing table above for species-specific guidance. 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.
Why a species-specific page? Dexmedetomidine pharmacokinetics differ across species: dose ranges, intervals, and route preferences are not interchangeable. Cross-extrapolation from canine doses is unsafe in cats — 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.