Dog · Canis lupus familiaris · typical adult weight 2.00–80.00 kg
Dexmedetomidine is used in dog for Sedation, pre-anesthetic, Field sedation for fractious dogs, CRI for sedation/analgesia, Noise aversion (Sileo). Routes documented in dog: IM, IV, OTM. A typical adult dog weighs 2.00–80.00 kg. ExoticRx lists 5 cited dose rules for Dexmedetomidine in dog, drawn from published veterinary references. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
Trade names: Dexdomitor, Sileo
| Route | Dose | Frequency | Duration | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IM | 0.005–0.02 mg/kg | once | Single dose | Sedation, pre-anesthetic | Strong | Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 9th Ed |
| IM | 0.01–0.04 mg/kg | once | Single dose | Field sedation for fractious dogs | Strong | Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 9th Ed |
| IV | 0.0005–0.002 mg/kg | per hour (CRI) | During procedure | CRI for sedation/analgesia | Strong | Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 9th Ed |
| IV | 0.001–0.005 mg/kg | once | Single dose | Sedation, pre-anesthetic | Strong | Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 9th Ed |
| OTM | 0.125 mg/m2 | PRN | As needed during noise events | Noise aversion (Sileo) | Strong | Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 9th Ed |
One of the cited rules is a continuous-rate-infusion regimen: IV 0.0005–0.002 mg/kg per hour (CRI). CRI regimens are delivered as a continuous infusion rather than discrete doses — verify the rate against the cited source before use.
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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.
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 dog may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.
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 dog — 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.