Dexmedetomidine for Cat
Cat · Felis catus · typical adult weight 2.50–7.00 kg
Dexmedetomidine is used in cat for Sedation, pre-anesthetic. Routes documented in cat: IM, IV. A typical adult cat weighs 2.50–7.00 kg. ExoticRx lists 2 cited dose rules for Dexmedetomidine in cat, drawn from published veterinary references. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
Trade names: Dexdomitor, Sileo
Dose ranges
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These ranges are per kg. Enter your cat's weight to get the precise dose and draw-up volume — unit and concentration math done for you.
Mechanism of action
Selective alpha-2 adrenergic agonist. Produces dose-dependent sedation, analgesia, and muscle relaxation via CNS depression.
Side effects & warnings
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 cat may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.
Other Anesthetic drugs with cat dosing
Dexmedetomidine dosing in other species
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 cat — 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.