Sourced from published veterinary references. Awaiting credentialed clinical reviewer — our editorial process.
Propofol is dosed at 6–10 mg/kg IV To effect in rabbits, per Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th ed (2023) ed. — Plumb's 10th ed printed p.1080, Propofol monograph spanning p.1080-1085. — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 10.4 (Chemical Restraint/Sedative/Anesthetic/Analgesic Agents Used in Rabbits.a,b). Verify against current literature before clinical use.
Enhances GABA-A receptor activity, producing rapid-onset, ultra-short-acting general anesthesia. Also has some NMDA receptor antagonism.
Side effects & warnings
Respiratory depression/apnea — have intubation equipment ready. No analgesic properties. Hypotension. Repeated use in cats may cause Heinz body formation. Strict aseptic handling (lipid emulsion supports bacterial growth).
Each ExoticRx dose rule is graded by the strength of its primary evidence — see the editorial process.
Sample dosing (2 of 40 cited rules)
A dog/cat sample is shown here. Cited dosing for all 31 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.
Papich MG. Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, Propofol, Small Animal Dosage, Cats, printed p.685 - "Anesthesia induction: 4-8 mg/kg IV slowly." NOTE - the previously cited Plumb's 10th ed printed p.1084 prints 2-8 mg/kg extra-label to effect and 8-13.2 mg/kg label unpremedicated, and does not carry the 4 bound. Served 4-8 lies wholly inside plumb's 2-8, so this is a locator fix and no dose changes. The rule's Oliveira 2018 primary citation reports a study ARM (5.3 +/- 1.1 mg/kg), not a recommendation.
· 105. Divers SJ. The use of propofol in reptile anesthesia. Proc Annu Conf Assoc Rept Amph Vet; 1996:57-59. | 446. Stahl S, Donoghue S. Pharyngostomy tube placement, management and use for nutritional support in chelonian patients. Proc Annu Conf Assoc Rept Amph Vet; 1997:93-97. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.249 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 4.5 (Chemical Restraint/Anesthetic Agents Used in Reptiles.a).
· 197. Schumacher J, Citino SB, Hernandez K, et al. Cardiopulmonary and anesthetic effects of propofol in wild turkeys. Am J Vet Res. 1997;58:1014-1017. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.644 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 6.4 (Chemical Restraint/Anesthetic/Analgesic Agents Used in Backyard Poultry,).
· 24. Bennett RA, Schumacher J, Hedjazi-Haring K, et al. Cardiopulmonary and anesthetic effects of propofol administered intraosseously to green iguanas. J Am Vet Med Assoc. 1998;212:93-98. — Source: Mader's Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery, 3rd Ed, p.1412
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Compilation only — we have not located an independent source that prints this figure.
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24. Heard D. Insectivores (hedgehogs, moles, and tenrecs). In: West G, Heard D, Caulkett N, eds. Zoo Animal and Wildlife Immobilization and Anesthesia, 2nd ed., John Wiley & Sons, Ames, IA; 2014:529-531. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.741 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 8.5 (Chemical Immobilization Protocols for Hedgehogs.a,b,5,15,17,21-23,28a).
· 34. Bennett RA, Schumacher J, Hedjazi-Haring K, et al. Cardiopulmonary and anesthetic effects of propofol administered intraosseously to green iguanas. J Am Vet Med Assoc. 1998;212:93-98. || 108. Divers SJ, Stahl SJ. Mader's Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery, 3rd ed., Elsevier, St. Louis, MO; 2019. || 342. Nardini G, Di Girolamo N, Leopardi S, et al. Evaluation of liver parenchyma and perfusion using dynamic contrast-enhanced computed tomography and contrast-enhanced ultrasonography in captive green iguanas (Iguana iguana) under general anesthesia. BMC Vet Res. 2014;10:112-120. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.248 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 4.5 (Chemical Restraint/Anesthetic Agents Used in Reptiles.a).
· 34. BennettRA, Schumacher J, Hedjazi-Haring K, et al. Cardiopulmonary and anesthetic effects of propofol administered intraosseously to green iguanas. J Am Vet Med Assoc. 1998;212:93-98. / 342. Nardini G, Di Girolamo N, Leopardi S, et al. Evaluation of liver parenchyma and perfusion using dynamic contrast-enhanced computed tomography and contrast-enhanced ultrasonography in captive green iguanas (Iguana iguana) under general anesthesia. BMC Vet Res. 2014;10:112-120. / 108. Divers SJ, Stahl SJ. Mader's Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery, 3rd ed., Elsevier, St. Louis, MO; 2019. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.248 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 4.5 (Chemical Restraint/Anesthetic Agents Used in Reptiles.a).
· 43. Bailey TA, Apo MM. Pharmaceutics commonly used in avian medicine. In: Samour J, eds. Avian Medicine, 3rd ed., Mosby Elsevier, Edinburgh, Scotland; 2016:637-678. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.455 doi:10.1016/b978-0-7234-3832-8.00023-7 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 5.5 (Chemical Restraint/Anesthetic/Sedative/Analgesic Agents Used in Birds.a,b).
· 68. Divers SJ. The use of propofol in reptile anesthesia. Proc Annu Conf Assoc Rept Amph Vet. 1996;57-59. | 318. Stahl S, Donoghue S. Pharyngostomy tube placement, management and use for nutritional support in chelonian patients. Proc Annu Conf Assoc Rept Amph Vet. 1997;93-97. — Source: Mader's Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery, 3rd Ed, p.1412
· Anderson NL, Wack RF, Calloway L. Cardiopulmonary effects and efficacy of propofol as an anesthetic agent in brown tree snakes, Boiga irregularis. Bull Assoc Rept Amph Vet. 1999;9:9-15. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.248 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 4.5 (Chemical Restraint/Anesthetic Agents Used in Reptiles.a).
· Balko JA, Wilson SK, Lewbart GA, Gaines BR, Posner LP. Propofol as an immersion anesthetic and in a minimum anesthetic concentration (MAC) reduction model in goldfish (Carassius auratus). J Zoo Wildl Med. 2017;48(1):48-54. doi:10.1638/2016-0079.1https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28363074/
· BennettRA, Schumacher J, Hedjazi-Haring K, et al. Cardiopulmonary and anesthetic effects of propofol administered intraosseously to green iguanas. J Am Vet Med Assoc. 1998;212:93-98. | Divers SJ, Stahl SJ. Mader's Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery, 3rd ed., Elsevier, St. Louis, MO; 2019. | Nardini G, Di Girolamo N, Leopardi S, et al. Evaluation of liver parenchyma and perfusion using dynamic contrast-enhanced computed tomography and contrast-enhanced ultrasonography in captive green iguanas (Iguana iguana) under general anesthesia. BMC Vet Res. 2014;10:112-120. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.248 doi:10.2460/javma.1998.212.01.93 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 4.5 (Chemical Restraint/Anesthetic Agents Used in Reptiles.a).
· BennettRA, Schumacher J, Hedjazi-Haring K, et al. Cardiopulmonary and anesthetic effects of propofol administered intraosseously to green iguanas. J Am Vet Med Assoc. 1998;212:93-98. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.248 doi:10.2460/javma.1998.212.01.93 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 4.5 (Chemical Restraint/Anesthetic Agents Used in Reptiles.a).
· Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th ed., Table 5.5 (Chemical restraint/anesthetic agents used in birds), p.455, Propofol block, ref 233. Independently corroborated: Avian Medicine appendix Table 5, p.825, 'Propofol 1-5 mg/kg IV | Most species/induction'. — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 5.5 (Chemical Restraint/Anesthetic/Sedative/Analgesic Agents Used in Birds.a,b).
· Divers SJ. The use of propofol in reptile anesthesia. Proc Annu Conf Assoc Rept Amph Vet; 1996:57-59. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.249 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 4.5 (Chemical Restraint/Anesthetic Agents Used in Reptiles.a).
· Fleming G. Clinical technique: chelonian shell repair. J Exot Pet Med. 2008;17:246-258. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.248 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 4.5 (Chemical Restraint/Anesthetic Agents Used in Reptiles.a).
· Glen JB. Animal studies of the anaesthetic activity of ICI 35 868. Br J Anaesth. 1980;52:731-742. | Mayer J. Rodents. In: Carpenter JW, eds. Exotic Animal Formulary, 4th ed., Saunders/Elsevier, St. Louis, MO; 2013:476-516. | 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.788 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 9.3 (Chemical Restraint/Anesthetic Agents Used in Rodents).
· Heard DJ. Advances in reptile anesthesia and medicine. Proc Annu Conf Assoc Avian Vet/Avian Speciality Advanced Prog/Small Mam Rept Prog; 1998:113-119. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.248 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 4.5 (Chemical Restraint/Anesthetic Agents Used in Reptiles.a).
· Ko JC, Marini RP. Anesthesia. In: Fox JG, Marini RP, eds. Biology and Diseases of the Ferret, 3rd ed., Wiley Blackwell, Ames, IA; 2014:259-283. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.941 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 11.5 (Chemical Restraint/Anesthetic Agents Used in Ferrets).
· 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.788 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 9.3 (Chemical Restraint/Anesthetic Agents Used in Rodents).
· Papich MG. Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th ed. (2016), Propofol, printed p.686 for 2 mg/kg IV; and Guaifenesin, printed p.371 for 3 mg/kg IV
· Papich MG. Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, Propofol, Small Animal Dosage, Cats, printed p.685 - "Anesthesia induction: 4-8 mg/kg IV slowly." NOTE - the previously cited Plumb's 10th ed printed p.1084 prints 2-8 mg/kg extra-label to effect and 8-13.2 mg/kg label unpremedicated, and does not carry the 4 bound. Served 4-8 lies wholly inside plumb's 2-8, so this is a locator fix and no dose changes. The rule's Oliveira 2018 primary citation reports a study ARM (5.3 +/- 1.1 mg/kg), not a recommendation.
· Ramsey I, ed. BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, 10th ed. Part B: Exotic Pets. Gloucester: British Small Animal Veterinary Association; 2023. p.255.
· Ziolo M, Bertelsen M. Effects of propofol administered via the supravertebral sinus in red-eared sliders. J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2009;234:390-393. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.249 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 4.5 (Chemical Restraint/Anesthetic Agents Used in Reptiles.a). — CORROBORATED 2026-08-06 by independent literature: Comparison of Two Intravenous Propofol Doses after Jugular Administration for Short Non-Surgical Procedures in Red-Eared Sliders ( Trachemys scripta elegans ). (Animals: an open access journal from MDPI, 2024). doi:10.3390/ani14131847. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14131847. The paper reports this drug at this dose in this species: "erent doses of propofol administered intravenously (IV), in the jugular vein, to red-eared sliders […]". This is a second source alongside the book already cited; it corroborates the figure and does not by itself establish that the dose is correct. ROUTE DIFFERS: this rule is IV (SUPRAVERTEBRAL S but the sentence quoted describes IV. The dose figure is corroborated; the route is not.