Pocket Pet · Mustela putorius furo · typical adult weight 0.60–2.00 kg
Hydroxyzine is dosed at 2 mg/kg PO q8h in ferrets, per 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. — Mined from Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.956 (2026-08-01, PENDING REVIEW). Hydroxyzine is used in ferrets for Antihistamine; pruritus. Routes documented in ferrets: PO. A typical adult ferret weighs 0.60–2.00 kg. ExoticRx lists 1 cited dose rule for Hydroxyzine in ferrets, drawn from published veterinary references. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
US trade names: Atarax, Vistaril
| Route | Dose | Frequency | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PO | 2 mg/kg | q8h | Antihistamine; pruritus | Weak | 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. — Mined from Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.956 (2026-08-01, PENDING REVIEW) |
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These ranges are per kg. Enter your ferret's weight to get the precise dose and draw-up volume — unit and concentration math done for you.
H1 antihistamine with anxiolytic and antipruritic properties. Metabolized to cetirizine (active metabolite). Crosses blood-brain barrier.
Sedation common. Anticholinergic effects. Used for pruritus and anxiety. IM injection painful — avoid. Metabolized to cetirizine which is also used clinically.
Species-specific contraindications and adverse-reaction reports for ferrets may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.
Hydroxyzine dose range in ferrets, with cited source references: PO 2 mg/kg q8h. Reference ranges from cited sources — verify against current literature before clinical use.
Documented routes for Hydroxyzine in ferrets: PO.
Hydroxyzine is indicated in ferrets for: Antihistamine; pruritus.
These are general warnings for Hydroxyzine across species; consult the ferret dosing table above for species-specific guidance. Sedation common. Anticholinergic effects. Used for pruritus and anxiety. IM injection painful — avoid. Metabolized to cetirizine which is also used clinically.
Why a species-specific page? Hydroxyzine pharmacokinetics differ across species: dose ranges, intervals, and route preferences are not interchangeable. Cross-extrapolation from canine doses is unsafe in ferrets — 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.