Exotic Animal Formulary5

Chemical Restraint/Anesthetic Agents Used in Wild Mammals. a-c
Agent Dosage Species/Comments
Acepromazine
0.5-2.5 mg/kg
IM 37
Prairie dogs
0.1 mg/kg IM 37 Beavers, porcupines
Alfaxalone (Alfaxan,
Jurox)
Atipamezole
(Antisedan,
Zoetis)
5-10 mg/kg IM or
1.5 mg/kg IV 74 Most species
— Dexmedetomidine and medetomidine reversal; give
same volume SC, IV, IP as medetomidine and
dexmedetomidine (dexmedetomidine is used at
one-half the dose of medetomidine but the
same volume due to higher concentration);
medetomidine is no longer commercially
available, but can be compounded
Atropine sulfate
Dexmedetomi-dine
(Dexdomitor,
Zoetis)
Diazepam
(available as a
1 mg/mL oral
solution)
Flumazenil
Glycopyrolate
0.03-0.05 mg/kg
SC 67
0.05-1 µg/kg IM,
IV (use lower
end of range if
giving IV) 36
0.1-1 mg/kg IM,
PO 37
0.5-2 mg/kg IM,
SC, PO 7
1-2.5 mg/kg PO,
IM, IP 37
0.01-0.05 mg/kg
IM, IV, IO;
repeat q1h
prn 67
0.01 mg/kg SC,
IM 37
0.01-0.02 mg/kg
SC, IM 37
Most species/preanesthetic dose; may not be
effective in lagomorphs and some rodents
Most species/generally insufficient alone to
produce sedation in most wild mammals;
combine with opioids and/or benzodiazepines;
see ketamine for combinations
Beavers, porcupines
Bats
Prairie dogs
If using 5 mg/mL midazolam and 0.1 mg/mL
flumazenil, use 2× the volume of midazolam
given
Beavers, porcupines
Prairie dogs
Ketamine — Combinations frequently used by the authors;
most can be followed by intubation and
inhalant anesthetic drugs if general anesthesia
is required; concentrated formulations of
ketamine (200 mg/mL), butorphanol (30-
50 mg/mL), and medetomidine (10 or
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