Sourced from published veterinary references. Awaiting credentialed clinical reviewer — our editorial process.
Yohimbine is dosed at 0.2–1 mg/kg IM, IV not stated in source in rabbits, per GillettCS. Selected drug dosages and clinical reference data. In: Manning PJ, Ringler DH, Newcomer CE, eds. The Biology of the Laboratory Rabbit, 2nd ed., Academic Press, San Diego, CA; 1994:467-472. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.865 — 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.
Alpha-2 agonist (xylazine) reversalAlpha2-adrenergic antagonistReversal of xylazineReversal of xylazine and detomidine sedationXylazine reversal
Mechanism of Action
Alpha-2 adrenergic antagonist reversing sedation from xylazine and other alpha-2 agonists. Less selective than atipamezole.
Side effects & warnings
Primarily used to reverse xylazine sedation. Less selective than atipamezole (also blocks alpha-1). Tremors, excitation, seizures at high doses. IV route preferred.
Species with Yohimbine dosing data (15 dose rules)
Each ExoticRx dose rule is graded by the strength of its primary evidence — see the editorial process.
Sample dosing (1 of 15 cited rules)
A dog/cat sample is shown here. Cited dosing for all 15 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), Yohimbine, Dosages > DOGS, printed p.1325; Yobine label, NADA# 140-866; corroborated by Papich, Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs 5th ed, printed p.854 — EDITION UNVERIFIABLE 2026-08-07: this citation names Papich 5th ed, which is NOT held. Its page locator does not resolve to a page naming this drug in the 4th ed (2016), so the reference cannot be confirmed against any copy available here. Treat the page number as unchecked and consult the 5th edition directly.
· 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.456 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).
· 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.456 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 5.5 (Chemical Restraint/Anesthetic/Sedative/Analgesic Agents Used in Birds.a,b).
· 66. Harkness JE. A Practitioner's Guide to Domestic Rodents, American Animal Hospital Association, Lakewood, CO; 1993. — 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).
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GillettCS. Selected drug dosages and clinical reference data. In: Manning PJ, Ringler DH, Newcomer CE, eds. The Biology of the Laboratory Rabbit, 2nd ed., Academic Press, San Diego, CA; 1994:467-472. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.865 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 10.4 (Chemical Restraint/Sedative/Anesthetic/Analgesic Agents Used in Rabbits.a,b).
· Harkness JE. A Practitioner's Guide to Domestic Rodents, American Animal Hospital Association, Lakewood, CO; 1993. — 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).
· Johnson D. African pygmy hedgehogs. In: Meredith A, Johnson-Delaney C, eds. BSAVA Manual of Exotic Pets, 5th ed., BSAVA, Gloucester, UK, 2010:139-147. - Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 8.4 (Chemical Restraint/Anesthetic Agents Used in Hedgehogs): 'Yohimbine | 0.5-1 mg/kg IM34 | Reversal of xylazine'. REPLACES the previous 'Table 8.5' anchor: Table 8.5 is 'Chemical Immobilization Protocols for Hedgehogs', contains no drug rows at all, and carries the footnote 'Dosages listed in Table 8-4'.
· Ness RD, Johnson-Delaney C. Sugar gliders. In: Quesenberry KE, Carpenter JW, eds. Ferrets, Rabbits, and Rodents: Clinical Medicine and Surgery, 3rd ed., Saunders/Elsevier, St. Louis, MO; 2012:393-410. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.709 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 7.3 (Chemical Restraint/Anesthetic Agents Used in Sugar Gliders).
· Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th ed (2023), Yohimbine, Dosages > DOGS, printed p.1325; Yobine label, NADA# 140-866; corroborated by Papich, Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs 5th ed, printed p.854 — EDITION UNVERIFIABLE 2026-08-07: this citation names Papich 5th ed, which is NOT held. Its page locator does not resolve to a page naming this drug in the 4th ed (2016), so the reference cannot be confirmed against any copy available here. Treat the page number as unchecked and consult the 5th edition directly.
· Sylvina TJ, Berman NG, Fox JG. Effects of yohimbine on bradycardia and duration of recumbency in ketamine/xylazine anesthetized ferrets. Lab Anim Sci. 1990;40:178-182. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.942 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 11.5 (Chemical Restraint/Anesthetic Agents Used in Ferrets).
· Vesal N, Zare P. Clinical evaluation of intranasal benzodiazepines, alpha-agonists and their antagonists in canaries. Vet Anaesth Analg. 2006;33:143-148. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.457 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 5.5 (Chemical Restraint/Anesthetic/Sedative/Analgesic Agents Used in Birds.a,b).