Pocket Pet · Oryctolagus cuniculus · typical adult weight 1.00–5.00 kg
Hetastarch is dosed at 5 ml/kg IV Given over 5-10 min; repeat if necessary in rabbits, per Longley L. Anaesthesia of Exotic Pets, Saunders/Elsevier, Philadelphia, PA; 2008. — Mined from Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.878 (2026-08-01, PENDING REVIEW). Hetastarch is used in rabbits for Volume expansion in hypoproteinemic patients. Routes documented in rabbits: IV. A typical adult rabbit weighs 1.00–5.00 kg. ExoticRx lists 1 cited dose rule for Hetastarch in rabbits, drawn from published veterinary references. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
US trade names: Hextend, Hespan
| Route | Dose | Frequency | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IV | 5 ml/kg | Given over 5-10 min; repeat if necessary | Volume expansion in hypoproteinemic patients | Moderate | Longley L. Anaesthesia of Exotic Pets, Saunders/Elsevier, Philadelphia, PA; 2008. — Mined from Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.878 (2026-08-01, PENDING REVIEW) |
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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.
Synthetic colloid maintaining intravascular oncotic pressure. Larger molecular weight than crystalloids providing longer intravascular duration (24 hours).
Coagulopathy risk (dilution and direct effect on vWF/Factor VIII). Acute kidney injury risk in critically ill. Max dose 20ml/kg/day in dogs. Not recommended in cats. Falling out of favor.
Species-specific contraindications and adverse-reaction reports for rabbits may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.
Hetastarch dose range in rabbits, with cited source references: IV 5 ml/kg Given over 5-10 min; repeat if necessary. Reference ranges from cited sources — verify against current literature before clinical use.
Documented routes for Hetastarch in rabbits: IV.
Hetastarch is indicated in rabbits for: Volume expansion in hypoproteinemic patients.
These are general warnings for Hetastarch across species; consult the rabbit dosing table above for species-specific guidance. Coagulopathy risk (dilution and direct effect on vWF/Factor VIII). Acute kidney injury risk in critically ill. Max dose 20ml/kg/day in dogs. Not recommended in cats. Falling out of favor.
Why a species-specific page? Hetastarch 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.