Amphibian · Anaxyrus houstonensis · typical adult weight 0.03–0.09 kg
Dexmedetomidine is dosed at 0.1 mg/kg SC Once per sedation, with alfaxalone ~12 mg/kg SC in houston toads, per Lang M, Freeman K, Griffioen J, Cannizzo S, Delaney MA. Comparison of Subcutaneous Alfaxalone and Subcutaneous Alfaxalone-Dexmedetomidine for Sedation in the Houston Toad (Anaxyrus houstonensis). J Zoo Wildl Med. 2024;55(1). Dexmedetomidine is used in houston toads for Sedation for handling, examination and minor procedures, as an adjunct to alfaxalone. Routes documented in houston toads: SC. A typical adult houston toad weighs 0.03–0.09 kg. ExoticRx lists 1 cited dose rule for Dexmedetomidine in houston toads, drawn from published veterinary references. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
US trade names: Dexdomitor, Sileo
| Route | Dose | Frequency | Duration | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SC | 0.1 mg/kg | Once per sedation, with alfaxalone ~12 mg/kg SC | Schedule as published: Single dose per sedation episode, combined with alfaxalone. Given concurrently with SC alfaxalone at approximately 12 mg/kg. Reversed with atipamezole at 45 minutes post-induction. Time to return of righting reflex and time to full recovery were both significantly longer than with alfaxalone alone. | Sedation for handling, examination and minor procedures, as an adjunct to alfaxalone |
| Lang M, Freeman K, Griffioen J, Cannizzo S, Delaney MA. Comparison of Subcutaneous Alfaxalone and Subcutaneous Alfaxalone-Dexmedetomidine for Sedation in the Houston Toad (Anaxyrus houstonensis). J Zoo Wildl Med. 2024;55(1). doi:10.1638/2023-0013 https://bioone.org/journals/journal-of-zoo-and-wildlife-medicine/volume-55/issue-1/2023-0013/COMPARISON-OF-SUBCUTANEOUS-ALFAXALONE-AND-SUBCUTANEOUS-ALFAXALONEDEXMEDETOMIDINE-FOR-SEDATION-IN/10.1638/2023-0013.full |
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These ranges are per kg. Enter your houston toad'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 houston toads may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.
Dexmedetomidine dose range in houston toads, with cited source references: SC 0.1 mg/kg Once per sedation, with alfaxalone ~12 mg/kg SC. Reference ranges from cited sources — verify against current literature before clinical use.
Documented routes for Dexmedetomidine in houston toads: SC.
Cited course lengths for Dexmedetomidine in houston toads include: Schedule as published: Single dose per sedation episode, combined with alfaxalone. Given concurrently with SC alfaxalone at approximately 12 mg/kg. Reversed with atipamezole at 45 minutes post-induction. Time to return of righting reflex and time to full recovery were both significantly longer than with alfaxalone alone.. Duration depends on the indication — match it to the specific dose rule in the table above.
Dexmedetomidine is indicated in houston toads for: Sedation for handling, examination and minor procedures, as an adjunct to alfaxalone.
These are general warnings for Dexmedetomidine across species; consult the houston toad 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 houston toads — 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.