Pocket Pet · Oryctolagus cuniculus · typical adult weight 1.00–5.00 kg
Dexmedetomidine is dosed at 0.01–0.05 mg/kg IM once in rabbits, per Lennox AM. Protocols and tips for anesthesia and analgesia for rabbit and rodent dentistry and orofacial surgery. Proc Assoc Exot Mam Vet Conf; 2012:77-78. — Verified against Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.858 (2026-08-01). — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 10.4 (Chemical Restraint/Sedative/Anesthetic/Analgesic Agents Used in Rabbits.a,b). The copy held is an ebook conversion with no printed page numbers, so the table — not the page — is the citable location. — SOURCE EDITION: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — ISBN 9780323833929, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323833929. Dexmedetomidine is used in rabbits for Sedation, pre-anesthetic. Routes documented in rabbits: IM. A typical adult rabbit weighs 1.00–5.00 kg. ExoticRx lists 1 cited dose rule for Dexmedetomidine in rabbits, 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 | 0.01–0.05 mg/kg | once | Single dose | Sedation, pre-anesthetic | Moderate | Lennox AM. Protocols and tips for anesthesia and analgesia for rabbit and rodent dentistry and orofacial surgery. Proc Assoc Exot Mam Vet Conf; 2012:77-78. — Verified against Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.858 (2026-08-01). — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 10.4 (Chemical Restraint/Sedative/Anesthetic/Analgesic Agents Used in Rabbits.a,b). The copy held is an ebook conversion with no printed page numbers, so the table — not the page — is the citable location. — SOURCE EDITION: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — ISBN 9780323833929, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323833929 |
Every held source for this drug and species, as printed. Where they differ, both are shown — the choice is yours, not ours.
| Dose (mg/kg) | Route | Source | As printed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.025–0.05 | IV | BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, 10th ed — Part B (Exotic Pets)p.111 | 0.025-0.05 mg/kg i.v. or 0.05-0.15 mg/kg s.c., i.m |
| 0.05–0.15 | SC | BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, 10th ed — Part B (Exotic Pets)p.111 | 0.025-0.05 mg/kg i.v. or 0.05-0.15 mg/kg s.c., i.m |
| 0.005 | IM | Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th edTable 10.4 | 0.005 mg/kg IM |
| 0.035–0.05 | IM | Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th edTable 10.4 | 0.035-0.05 mg/kg IM |
Figures are transcribed from the cited page or table of each held edition and are shown for reference only. They are not dose recommendations, they do not feed the calculator, and none has been reviewed by a veterinarian.
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These ranges are per kg. Enter your rabbit'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 rabbits may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.
Dexmedetomidine dose range in rabbits, with cited source references: IM 0.01–0.05 mg/kg once. Reference ranges from cited sources — verify against current literature before clinical use.
Documented routes for Dexmedetomidine in rabbits: IM.
Cited course lengths for Dexmedetomidine in rabbits include: Single dose. Duration depends on the indication — match it to the specific dose rule in the table above.
Dexmedetomidine is indicated in rabbits for: Sedation, pre-anesthetic.
These are general warnings for Dexmedetomidine across species; consult the rabbit 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 rabbits — 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.