Sourced from published veterinary references. Awaiting credentialed clinical reviewer — our editorial process.
Epinephrine is dosed at 0.01–0.02 mg/kg IM q3-5min prn during CPR in rabbits, per Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th ed, Table 10.8, Table 10.22 (the served figure is printed in each; all lie in the chapter covering this species). Verify against current literature before clinical use.
Non-selective adrenergic agonist (alpha and beta). Increases heart rate, contractility, and vascular tone. Bronchodilator. First-line for cardiac arrest and anaphylaxis.
Side effects & warnings
Causes tachycardia, arrhythmias, hypertension. Dilute for IV use (1:10,000). Tissue necrosis if extravasated. Very short duration of action. Light-sensitive.
Species with Epinephrine dosing data (27 dose rules)
Each ExoticRx dose rule is graded by the strength of its primary evidence — see the editorial process.
Sample dosing (2 of 27 cited rules)
A dog/cat sample is shown here. Cited dosing for all 17 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 (2023) — Plumb's 10th ed printed p.457, Epinephrine monograph spanning p.457-459.Compilation only — we have not located an independent source that prints this figure.
Papich MG, Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th ed, Epinephrine, Small Animal Dosage, printed p.292: "Cardiac arrest: 10-20 mcg/kg IV"; same page, "Generally, start with the low dose every 3-5 minutes IV in CPR." Corroborated: Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th ed, printed p.459, DOGS/CATS: "Low-dose epinephrine 0.01 mg/kg IV, IO administered every 3 to 5 minutes"; BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, 10th ed, Part A, printed p.6, "Dogs, Cats: Cardiopulmonary arrest (CPA): 10 ug/kg. i.v. or intraosseously every 3-5 min."Compilation only — we have not located an independent source that prints this figure.
· 39. Lennox AM. Emergency and critical care procedures in sugar gliders (Petaurus breviceps), African hedgehogs (Atelerix albiventris), and prairie dogs (Cynomys spp). Vet Clin North Am Exot Anim Pract. 2007;10:533-555. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.744 doi:10.1016/j.cvex.2007.01.001 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 8.7 (Miscellaneous Agents Used in Hedgehogs).
· Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th ed, Table 10.8, Table 10.22 (the served figure is printed in each; all lie in the chapter covering this species).
· Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th ed, Table 4.5. 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.
· Clark DR. Diseases of the general circulation. In: Howard JL, ed. Current Veterinary Therapy: Food Animal Practice 2. 2nd ed. Philadelphia, PA: WB Saunders; 1986:694-696. — Plumb's 10th ed printed p.457, Epinephrine monograph spanning p.457-459.
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· Exotic Animal Emergency and Critical Care Medicine, Ch. 6 (CPCR), emergency drug table, printed p.89; flowchart p.84 (PDF p.100) repeats 'epinephrine 0.01 mg/kg. q3-5min'
· Fehr M, Sassenburg L, Zwart P. Krankheiten der Heimtiere, 8th ed., Schluetersche Verlagsgesellschaft, Hannover, Germany; 2015 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 9.5 (Cardiovascular Agents Used in Rodents).
· Fletcher DJ, Boller M, Brainard BM, et al. RECOVER evidence and knowledge gap analysis on veterinary CPR. Part 7: Clinical guidelines. J Vet Emerg Crit Care. 2012;22. doi:10.1111/j.1476-4431.2012.00751.x — Papich/Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th Ed, p.292
· Graham JE, Doss GA, Beaufrere H (eds). Exotic Animal Emergency and Critical Care Medicine, Wiley-Blackwell, printed p.741, Box 44.1 'Commonly used medications in reptile and amphibian CPCR': 'Epinephrine (1:1000, 1 mg/ml) Reptiles: 0.1 mg/kg IV, IO, IT [3, 12]'. Corroborated by Mader's Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery 3e, printed p.1388: 'epinephrine (0.1 mg/kg IM or IV) may be effective'. THE CARPENTER TABLE 4.5 LOCATOR IS REMOVED: carpenter p.239 prints '0.5-1 mg/kg IV, IO, IT331 | Most species/CPR, cardiac arrest' and every 0.1 mg/kg row on it is IM, chelonian or crocodilian, and an anaesthetic-RECOVERY indication.
· Hawkins MG, Barron H, Speer BL, et al. Birds. In: Carpenter JW, eds. Exotic Animal Formulary, 4th ed., Elsevier Saunders, St. Louis, MO; 2013:183-437.; Redig PT. Avian emergencies. In: Beynon PH, Forbes NA, Harcourt-Brown NH, eds. BSAVA Manual of Raptors, Pigeons and Waterfowl; Iowa State University Press, Ames, IA; 1996:30-41.; Rupley AE. Critical care of pet birds. Vet Clin North Am Exot Anim Pract. 1998;1:11-41. doi:10.1016/S1094-9194(17)30153-6 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 5.16 (Agents Used in Bird Emergencies.a).
· Jepson L. Sugar gliders. In: Jepson L, eds. Exotic Animal Medicine: A Quick Reference Guide, 2nd ed., Elsevier, St. Louis, MO; 2016:231-257. | Johnson-Delaney CA. Personal observation; 2020. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.723 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 7.15 (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation in Sugar Gliders.14,24). — Carpenter's 6th ed, Table 7.5 (Miscellaneous Agents Used in Sugar Gliders). — RETRIEVED FINDING - CHANGE REQUIRED (retrieved 2026-08-19): Served figure is printed at "Low dose: 0.01-0.02 mg/kg SC,IM,IV,IO,IT,IC q3-5min" — Exotic Animal Emergency and Critical Care Medicine, printed p.89. The two CITED tables do not carry it: Carpenter Table 7.15 prints "Epinephrine can be administered at 0.2 mg/kg IV, IO, or intracardiac" and Table 7.5 prints "Epinephrine 0.003 mg/kg IV28,30"
· Lennox AM. Emergency and critical care procedures in sugar gliders (Petaurus breviceps), African hedgehogs (Atelerix albiventris), and prairie dogs (Cynomys spp.). Vet Clin North Am Exot Anim Pract. 2007;10:533-555. | Morrisey JK, Carpenter JW, et al. Formulary. In: Quesenberry KE, Orcutt CJ, 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.711 — 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
· Morrisey JK, Carpenter JW. Formulary. In: Quesenberry KE, Carpenter JW, eds. 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.796
· Papich MG, Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th ed, Epinephrine, Small Animal Dosage, printed p.292: "Cardiac arrest: 10-20 mcg/kg IV"; same page, "Generally, start with the low dose every 3-5 minutes IV in CPR." Corroborated: Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th ed, printed p.459, DOGS/CATS: "Low-dose epinephrine 0.01 mg/kg IV, IO administered every 3 to 5 minutes"; BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, 10th ed, Part A, printed p.6, "Dogs, Cats: Cardiopulmonary arrest (CPA): 10 ug/kg. i.v. or intraosseously every 3-5 min."
· Papich, Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 5th Ed, Epinephrine, Small Animal Dosage - printed p.292. Corroborated by Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th ed (2023) printed p.459 (low-dose CPR 0.01 mg/kg IV/IO q3-5min) and BSAVA Small Animal Formulary 10th Ed printed p.6 (10 micrograms/kg i.v. q3-5min). — EDITION CORRECTED 2026-08-07: this citation named the 5th edition, which is not held. The page locator resolves in the 4th ed (2016), the copy actually consulted, and that page names the drug; the reference is to the 4th.
· Papich/Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th Ed, p.292
· Plumb's 10th cites the RECOVER CPR Initiative, Part 7 (Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Society, veccs.org) for this entire CPR block - the same source the live rule names. — Plumb's 10th ed printed p.457, Epinephrine monograph spanning p.457-459.
· Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th ed (2023) — Plumb's 10th ed printed p.457, Epinephrine monograph spanning p.457-459.
· Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th ed (2023) — Plumb's 10th ed printed p.457, Epinephrine monograph spanning p.457-459. — Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th ed, Epinephrine monograph, printed p.459, DOGS/CATS: "Anaphylaxis (extra-label): Initially, epinephrine 0.01 mg/kg IM using a 1 mg/mL solution. The SC […]" Corroborated: Papich MG, Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th ed, printed p.292: "Anaphylactic shock: 5-10 mcg/kg IV or IM"; BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, 10th ed, Part A, printed p.6.
· Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th ed (2023) — Plumb's 10th ed printed p.457, Epinephrine monograph spanning p.457-459. — Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th ed, Epinephrine monograph, printed p.459, DOGS/CATS: "Anaphylaxis (extra-label): Initially, epinephrine 0.01 mg/kg IM using a 1 mg/mL solution. the […]" Corroborated: BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, 10th ed, Part A, printed p.6: "Dogs, Cats:. Bronchoconstriction and anaphylaxis: 10 ug/kg of a 1:1000 solution i.v. or i.m."
· Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th ed (2023) — Plumb's 10th ed printed p.459, Epinephrine monograph spanning p.457-459.
· Ramsey I, ed. BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, 10th ed. Part B: Exotic Pets. Gloucester: British Small Animal Veterinary Association; 2023. p.7.
· Rupley AE. Critical care of pet birds. Vet Clin North Am Exot Anim Pract. 1998;1:11-41. doi:10.1016/S1094-9194(17)30153-6; Lichtenberger M, Lennox A. Critical care. In: Speer B, eds. Current Therapy in Avian Medicine and Surgery; Elsevier, St. Louis, MO; 2016:582-588. — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 5.16 (Agents Used in Bird Emergencies.a).
Epinephrine (Adrenalin) Dosage for Rabbits, Koi | ExoticRx