Sourced from published veterinary references. Awaiting credentialed clinical reviewer — our editorial process.
Doxapram is dosed at 2–5 mg/kg IV once (BSAVA); Carpenter's prints q15min in rabbits, per Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th ed, Table 10.22. NOTE: the served figure was matched against the table as a whole, not against this drug's own row, so confirm the number on the page before relying on it. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
Stimulates peripheral carotid chemoreceptors and central medullary respiratory centers, increasing tidal volume and respiratory rate.
Side effects & warnings
Short duration of action (minutes). Use for neonatal resuscitation or post-anesthetic apnea. May cause hypertension, tachycardia, and seizures at high doses. Ensure adequate airway before use.
Each ExoticRx dose rule is graded by the strength of its primary evidence — see the editorial process.
Sample dosing (2 of 30 cited rules)
A dog/cat sample is shown here. Cited dosing for all 27 species — reptiles, birds, pocket pets, livestock, and equine — is free on the per-species pages above. Pro adds the weight-based calculator for every species.
Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th ed, Doxapram monograph, label dosage (FDA-approved): "To initiate or stimulate respirations in neonates after cesarean section or dystocia. Kittens: 1 […]". Corroborated Papich 5th ed: "Neonate: 1-5 mg SQ, sublingual, or via umbilical vein" (a flat mg dose, not per kg).Compilation only — we have not located an independent source that prints this figure.
Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th ed (2023) — Plumb's 10th ed printed p.426, Doxapram monograph spanning p.426-428. — Plumb's 10th ed printed p.428, Doxapram monograph.Compilation only — we have not located an independent source that prints this figure.
· 25. Heatley J. Hedgehogs. In: Mitchell MA, Tully TN Jr., eds. Manual of Exotic Pet Practice; Saunders/Elsevier, St. Louis, MO; 2009:433-455. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.744 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 8.7 (Miscellaneous Agents Used in Hedgehogs).
· 295. Schumacher J. Reptiles and amphibians. In: Thurman JC, Tranquilli WJ, Benson GJ, eds. Lumb and Jones' Veterinary Anesthesia. 3rd ed. Baltimore: Williams & Wilkins; 1996:670-685. — Source: Mader's Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery, 3rd Ed, p.1409
· 46. Ewringmann A, Gloeckner B. Leitsymptome bei Meerschweinchen, Chinchilla und Degu, Enke, Stuttgart, Germany; 2012. | 122. Meredith A. BSAVA Small Animal Formulary: Part B: Exotic Pets, British Small Animal Veterinary Association, Quedgeley, Gloucester, UK; 2015. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.796 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 9.6 (Emergency Drugs Used in Rodents).
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46. Ewringmann A, Gloeckner B. Leitsymptome bei Meerschweinchen, Chinchilla und Degu, Enke, Stuttgart, Germany; 2012.; 122. Meredith A. BSAVA Small Animal Formulary: Part B: Exotic Pets, British Small Animal Veterinary Association, Quedgeley, Gloucester, UK; 2015. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.796 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 9.6 (Emergency Drugs Used in Rodents).
· 63. Carpenter JW, Klaphake E, Gibbons PM, et al. Reptile formulary. In: Divers SJ, Stahl SJ, eds. Mader's Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery, 3rd ed., Elsevier, St. Louis, MO; 2019:1191-1211. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.238 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 4.5 (Chemical Restraint/Anesthetic Agents Used in Reptiles.a).
· Carpenter JW, Klaphake E, Gibbons PM, et al. Reptile formulary. In: Divers SJ, Stahl SJ, eds. Mader's Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery, 3rd ed., Elsevier, St. Louis, MO; 2019:1191-1211.
· Carpenter JW, Klaphake E, Gibbons PM, et al. Reptile formulary. In: Divers SJ, Stahl SJ, eds. Mader's Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery, 3rd ed., Elsevier, St. Louis, MO; 2019:1191-1211. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.238 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 4.5 (Chemical Restraint/Anesthetic Agents Used in Reptiles.a).
· Carpenter JW, Klaphake E, Gibbons PM, et al. Reptile formulary. In: Divers SJ, Stahl SJ, eds. Mader's Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery, 3rd ed., Elsevier, St. Louis, MO; 2019:1191-1211. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.239 - Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 4.5 (Chemical Restraint/Anesthetic Agents Used in Reptiles).
· Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th ed, Table 10.22. NOTE: the served figure was matched against the table as a whole, not against this drug's own row, so confirm the number on the page before relying on it.
· Ewringmann A, Gloeckner B. Leitsymptome bei Meerschweinchen, Chinchilla und Degu, Enke, Stuttgart, Germany; 2012. | Meredith A. BSAVA Small Animal Formulary: Part B: Exotic Pets, British Small Animal Veterinary Association, Quedgeley, Gloucester, UK; 2015. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.796 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 9.6 (Emergency Drugs Used in Rodents).
· Ewringmann A, Gloeckner B. Leitsymptome bei Meerschweinchen, Chinchilla und Degu, Enke, Stuttgart, Germany; 2012. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.796 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 9.6 (Emergency Drugs Used in Rodents).
· Fehr M, Sassenburg L, Zwart P. Krankheiten der Heimtiere, 8th ed., Schluetersche Verlagsgesellschaft, Hannover, Germany; 2015.; Meredith A. BSAVA Small Animal Formulary: Part B: Exotic Pets, British Small Animal Veterinary Association, Quedgeley, Gloucester, UK; 2015. — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 9.6 (Emergency Drugs Used in Rodents).
· Morrisey JK, Carpenter JW, et al. Formulary. In: Quesenberry KE, OrcuttCJ, Mans C, et al. Ferrets, Rabbits, and Rodents: Clinical Medicine and Surgery, 4th ed., Elsevier, St. Louis, MO; 2021:620-630. — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 7.5 (Miscellaneous Agents Used in Sugar Gliders).
· Morrisey JK, Carpenter JW, et al. Formulary. In: Quesenberry KE, OrcuttCJ, Mans C, et al. Ferrets, Rabbits, and Rodents: Clinical Medicine and Surgery, 4th ed., Elsevier, St. Louis, MO; 2021:620-630. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.946
· Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th ed (2023) — Plumb's 10th ed printed p.426, Doxapram monograph spanning p.426-428.
· Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th ed (2023) — Plumb's 10th ed printed p.426, Doxapram monograph spanning p.426-428. — Plumb's 10th ed printed p.428, Doxapram monograph.
· Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th ed (2023) — Plumb's 10th ed printed p.426, Doxapram monograph spanning p.426-428. — Plumb's 10th ed, Doxapram monograph, printed p.426-428. — Plumb's 10th ed printed p.428, Doxapram monograph.
· Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th ed, Doxapram monograph, label dosage (FDA-approved): "To initiate or stimulate respirations in neonates after cesarean section or dystocia. Kittens: 1 […]". Corroborated Papich 5th ed: "Neonate: 1-5 mg SQ, sublingual, or via umbilical vein" (a flat mg dose, not per kg).
· Ramsey I, ed. BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, 10th ed. Part B: Exotic Pets. Gloucester: British Small Animal Veterinary Association; 2023. p.126.
· Samour, Avian Medicine, 3rd Ed. (raptor formulary appendix), p.680. Row as printed binds this dose to raptors on its own line: "Doxapram Dopram Injection (Willows Raptors IV 10 mg/kg once Respiratory stimulant. Reversal of respiratory".
· Speer BL (ed.), Current Therapy in Avian Medicine and Surgery, 1st ed. (Elsevier, 2016), Appendix 1 'Table of Common Drugs and Approximate Doses', Table 13 'Agents Used in Emergencies', printed p.820: 'Doxapram | 5-20 mg/kg IM, IV, IO | Most species/respiratory depression or arrest; CPR'. Second independent text: Graham JE, Doss GA, Beaufrere H (eds.), Exotic Animal Emergency and Critical Care Medicine (Wiley, 2021), Birds — Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation, 'Emergency drug doses commonly used in avian patients': 'Doxapram (20 mg/ml) | Respiratory depression/arrest | 2-20 mg/kg IM, IV, IO, intratracheal'.