Reptile · Centrochelys sulcata · typical adult weight 1.00–40.00 kg
Dexmedetomidine is dosed at 0.02–0.05 mg/kg IM single premedication dose, combined with ketamine in sulcata tortoises, per Turner RC, Gatson BJ, Hernandez JA, Alexander AB, Aitken-Palmer C, Vigani A, Heard DJ. Sedation and anesthesia of Galapagos (Chelonoidis nigra), Aldabra (Aldabrachelys gigantea), and African spurred tortoises (Centrochelys sulcata): a retrospective review (2009-2019). Animals (Basel). 2021;11(10):2920. doi:10.3390/ani11102920 https://europepmc.org/article/MED/34679940 — SOURCE EDITION: Zoo Animal and Wildlife Immobilization and Anesthesia — ISBN 9780813811833, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780813811833. Dexmedetomidine is used in sulcata tortoises for Premedication / sedation for immobilisation and general anaesthesia. Routes documented in sulcata tortoises: IM. A typical adult sulcata tortoise weighs 1.00–40.00 kg. ExoticRx lists 1 cited dose rule for Dexmedetomidine in sulcata tortoises, drawn from published veterinary references. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
US trade names: Dexdomitor, Sileo
| Route | Dose | Frequency | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IM | 0.02–0.05 mg/kg | single premedication dose, combined with ketamine | Premedication / sedation for immobilisation and general anaesthesia | Moderate | Turner RC, Gatson BJ, Hernandez JA, Alexander AB, Aitken-Palmer C, Vigani A, Heard DJ. Sedation and anesthesia of Galapagos (Chelonoidis nigra), Aldabra (Aldabrachelys gigantea), and African spurred tortoises (Centrochelys sulcata): a retrospective review (2009-2019). Animals (Basel). 2021;11(10):2920. doi:10.3390/ani11102920 https://europepmc.org/article/MED/34679940 — SOURCE EDITION: Zoo Animal and Wildlife Immobilization and Anesthesia — ISBN 9780813811833, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780813811833 |
Every held source for this drug and species, as printed. Where they differ, both are shown — the choice is yours, not ours.
The sources disagree for this combination. The ranges below do not overlap on a comparable route. This is not an error in one of them — published veterinary references differ, and reconciling them for a particular patient is a clinical judgement.
| Dose (mg/kg) | Route | Source | As printed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.2 | IM | Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th edTable 4.6 | 0.2 mg/kg IM |
| 1 | — | Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th edTable 4.6 | lam (Mi) 1 mg/kg |
| 0.075 | — | Mader's Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery, 3rd edTable 127.5 | (De) 0.075 mg/kg + (K) 8 mg/kg + (Mo) 1 mg/kg IM223 Gopher tortoises/anesthesia, reversed with atipamezole |
| 8 | — |
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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 sulcata tortoises may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.
Dexmedetomidine dose range in sulcata tortoises, with cited source references: IM 0.02–0.05 mg/kg single premedication dose, combined with ketamine. Reference ranges from cited sources — verify against current literature before clinical use.
Documented routes for Dexmedetomidine in sulcata tortoises: IM.
Dexmedetomidine is indicated in sulcata tortoises for: Premedication / sedation for immobilisation and general anaesthesia.
These are general warnings for Dexmedetomidine across species; consult the sulcata tortoise 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 sulcata tortoises — 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.
| Mader's Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery, 3rd edTable 127.5 |
| (De) 0.075 mg/kg + (K) 8 mg/kg + (Mo) 1 mg/kg IM223 Gopher tortoises/anesthesia, reversed with atipamezole |
| 1 | — | Mader's Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery, 3rd edTable 127.5 | (De) 0.075 mg/kg + (K) 8 mg/kg + (Mo) 1 mg/kg IM223 Gopher tortoises/anesthesia, reversed with atipamezole |
| 10 | IM | Mader's Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery, 3rd edTable 127.5 | (K) 10 mg/kg + (De) 0.05 mg/kg IM, IV268,269 Desert tortoises/premedication |
| 0.05 | IM | Mader's Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery, 3rd edTable 127.5 | (K) 10 mg/kg + (De) 0.05 mg/kg IM, IV268,269 Desert tortoises/premedication |
| 40–120 | — | Mader's Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery, 3rd edTable 128.4 | 40-120 mg/kg SC27 Analgesia >4 hr; ED50b in leopard frogs |
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.