Livestock · Ovis aries · typical adult weight 30.00–120.00 kg
Xylazine is dosed at 0.1–0.2 mg/kg IM single dose in sheep, per Snyder J. Anesthesia and pain management: Minor surgeries. Presented at: Western Veterinary Conference; 2009.; Edmondson MA. Anesthesia and common surgical procedures in small ruminants. Presented at: Southwest Veterinary Symposium (SWVS); 2016. — Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.1350 (2026-08-01). — Plumb's 10th ed (held) printed p.1319, Xylazine monograph spanning p.1319-1323; page located 2026-08-05 from the book's own running heads, verified to name the drug in its body text. — SOURCE EDITION: Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook — ISBN 9781394172207, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9781394172207; Zoo Animal and Wildlife Immobilization and Anesthesia — ISBN 9780813811833, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780813811833. Xylazine is used in sheep for Sedation, Sedation, chemical restraint. Routes documented in sheep: IM. A typical adult sheep weighs 30.00–120.00 kg. ExoticRx lists 2 cited dose rules for Xylazine in sheep, drawn from published veterinary references. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
US trade names: Rompun, AnaSed
| Route | Dose | Frequency | Duration | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IM | 0.1–0.2 mg/kg | single dose |
| — |
| Sedation |
| Moderate |
| Snyder J. Anesthesia and pain management: Minor surgeries. Presented at: Western Veterinary Conference; 2009.; Edmondson MA. Anesthesia and common surgical procedures in small ruminants. Presented at: Southwest Veterinary Symposium (SWVS); 2016. — Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.1350 (2026-08-01). — Plumb's 10th ed (held) printed p.1319, Xylazine monograph spanning p.1319-1323; page located 2026-08-05 from the book's own running heads, verified to name the drug in its body text. — SOURCE EDITION: Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook — ISBN 9781394172207, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9781394172207; Zoo Animal and Wildlife Immobilization and Anesthesia — ISBN 9780813811833, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780813811833 |
| IM | 0.05–0.1 mg/kg | As needed | Single dose | Sedation, chemical restraint | Moderate | Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th ed (held), Xylazine monograph, Dosages, SHEEP and GOATS block, printed p.1322-1323 (corpus PDF p.1349-1350). [CORRECTED - the clause claiming the figure was located at printed p.1321 is false. Printed p.1321 carries only DOGS, CATS and HORSES. The ovine figures printed at p.1323 are 0.1-0.4 mg/kg IV, which is NOT the served figure.] The served 0.05-0.1 mg/kg IM for sheep is printed in NEITHER held book - papich printed p.852 gives Sheep IM 0.1-0.3 and Sheep IV 0.05-0.1. |
Every held source for this drug and species, as printed. Where they differ, both are shown — the choice is yours, not ours.
| Dose (mg/kg) | Route | Source | As printed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.1–0.3 | IM | Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.880 | • 0.1-0.3 mg/kg IM. |
| 0.05–0.1 | IV | Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.880 | • 0.05-0.1 mg/kg IV. |
Figures are transcribed from the cited page or table of each held edition and are shown for reference only. They are not dose recommendations, they do not feed the calculator, and none has been reviewed by a veterinarian.
Need the exact dose for your patient?
These ranges are per kg. Enter your sheep's weight to get the precise dose and draw-up volume — unit and concentration math done for you.
Alpha-2 adrenergic agonist causing dose-dependent sedation, analgesia, and muscle relaxation. Also activates peripheral alpha-2 receptors causing vasoconstriction and bradycardia.
Profound bradycardia and vomiting (especially cats). Cats more sensitive than dogs. Reversible with atipamezole or yohimbine. Avoid in horses with colic (ileus). 100mg/ml for large animals only.
Species-specific contraindications and adverse-reaction reports for sheep may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.
Xylazine dose ranges in sheep, with cited source references: IM 0.1–0.2 mg/kg single dose; IM 0.05–0.1 mg/kg As needed. Reference ranges from cited sources — verify against current literature before clinical use.
Documented routes for Xylazine in sheep: IM.
Cited course lengths for Xylazine in sheep include: Single dose. Duration depends on the indication — match it to the specific dose rule in the table above.
Xylazine is indicated in sheep for: Sedation, Sedation, chemical restraint.
These are general warnings for Xylazine across species; consult the sheep dosing table above for species-specific guidance. Profound bradycardia and vomiting (especially cats). Cats more sensitive than dogs. Reversible with atipamezole or yohimbine. Avoid in horses with colic (ileus). 100mg/ml for large animals only.
Why a species-specific page? Xylazine pharmacokinetics differ across species: dose ranges, intervals, and route preferences are not interchangeable. Cross-extrapolation from canine doses is unsafe in sheep — 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.