Table 8. Sedatives, Tranquilizers, Anesthetics and Analgesics for Use in Rabbits

Drug

Dosage

Route of

Injection

Duration of Anesthesia

Sedatives/Tranquilizers

     

Diazepam

5-10 mg/kg

IM

 

Midazolam

2 mg/kg

IP or IV

 

Propiopromazine

5-10 mg/kg

IM

 

Acetylpromazine

0.75-10.0 mg/kg

(0.75-1.0 mg/kg is most frequently used)

IM

 

Xylazine

3-9 mg/kg

IM or IV

 

Barbiturates

     

Thiopental

(Pentothalâ )

15-30 mg/kg

IV (1% solution)

given to effect

minutes

Thiamylal Sodium

(Bio-Talâ . Surritalâ

Bio-Ceuticâ )

15-25 mg/kg

IV (1% solution)

given to effect

minutes

EMTU (Inactinâ )

47.5 mg/kg

IV to effect

minutes

Methohexitone

10 mg/kg

IV

minutes

Pertobarbital

20-60 mg/kg

IV

60-180 minutes

Pentobarbital +

Guaifenesin

20 mg/kg

200 mg/kg

IV

IV

30 minutes (surgery)

Pentobarbital +

Ketamine +

30 mg/kg

10 mg/kg

IV

IM (administered 10 minutes following pentobarbital)

40-50 minutes

1% lidocane

hydrochloride

local

infiltration of surgical

incision

SQ

 

Dissociatives

     

Ketamine

35-50 mg/kg

IM

 

Ketamine +

Xylazine

10 mg/kg

3 mg/kg

IV

IV

30 minutes

Ketamine +

Xylazine

(reverse with

Yohimbine)

35-50 mg/kg

5-10 mg/kg

0.2 mg/kg

IM

IM

IV

30-60 minutes

Acetylpromazine +

Ketamine +

Xylazine

(pre-op with atropine,

0.04 mg/kg IM)

0.75-1.0 mg/kg

35-40 mg/kg

3-5 mg/kg

SC

IM

IM

75-100 minutes

Ketamine +

Acetylpromazine

75 mg/kg

5 mg/kg

IM

IM (given 30 minutes prior

to ketamine)

not listed

Ketamine +

Diazepam

60-80 mg/kg

5-10 mg/kg

IM

IM (given 30 minutes prior

to ketamine)

not listed

Ketamine +

EMTU (Inactinâ )

35 mg/kg

25-55 mg/kg

IM

IV to effect

18-30 minutes

Ketamine +

Medetomidine

25 mg/kg

0.5 mg/kg

IM

SC

90-180 minutes

Tiletamine +

Zolazepam (Telazolâ )

32-64 mg/kg

IM

95-144 minutes

(sedation)

Tiletamine +

Zolazepam (Telazolâ )

15 mg/kg

IM (Inject simultaneously

but use separate syringes)

72 minutes

Xylazine

5 mg/kg

   

Neuroleptanalgesics

     

Fentanyl-Droperidol

0.15-0.44 mg/kg

IM

30-75 minutes

(Innovar-Vetâ )

(0.22 ml/kg is optimal dosage)

   

Fentanyl-Fluanisone

(Hypnormâ )

0.2-0.6 ml/kg

IM or SC

15-30 minutes

(surgery) up to 4 hours

(sedation)

Diazepam +

Fentanyl-Fluanisone

(Hypnormâ )

1.5-5 mg/kg

0.2-0.5 mg/kg

(administer Diazepam 5

minutes prior to Hypnormâ )

IM, IV or IP

IM or SC

20-45 minutes

Midazolam +

Fentanyl-Fluanisone

(Hypnormâ )

2 mg/kg

0.3 ml/kg

(administer Midazolam 5 minutes prior to Hypnormâ )

IP or IV

IM

60-120 minutes

Etorphine +

Methotrimeprazine

(Small Animal Immobilonâ )

0.025-0.05 ml/kg

IM

sedation up to 240 minutes

60-90 minutes light surgical

anesthesia

Diazepam +

Etorphine +

Methotrimaprazine

(Small Animal Immobilonâ )

1.0 mg/kg

0.025 ml/kg

IV or IP

IM

 

45-70 minutes

light surgical anesthesia

Other

     

Alphaxalone +

Alphadolone

(Saffinâ )

6-20 mg/kg

(optimal dose =

12 mg/kg)

IV

8-10 minutes

(light surgical anesthesia)

Chloral Hydrate

250 mg/kg

IV

not listed

Chloral Hydrate +

Magnesium Sulfate +

Pentobarbital +

Propylene Glycol

(Equi-Thesinâ )

0.5-3.0 ml/kg

in increments of 0.5 ml

per rectum

80-205 minutes

(light to surgical anesthesia)

Equi-Thesinâ

to effect

IV

10-85 minutes (light to

surgical anesthesia)

Ketamine +

Chloral Hydrate

20 mg/kg

250 mg/kg

IM

IV

20 minutes

Alpha Chloralose

100 mg/kg

IV

30 minutes

Propofol

7.5-15 mg/kg

IV

4-16 minutes

Guaifenesin

5% solution in 5% dextrose, given at dosage of 200 mg/kg

IV

15 minutes

(surgery)

Guaifesin +

Ketamine

200 mg/kg

50 mg/kg

IV

IM

30-180 minutes

Alpha Chloralose +

 

Urethane

32 mmol (10g)/L in saline at dose of 258 umol (80 mg)/kg

400-500 mg/kg (5.61 mmol/kg) in 1 L of saline (2.8 mol/L)

IV (give after urethane)

 

slowly IV

240 minutes

Urethane

1-1.6 g/kg

1.5 g/kg

IP

IV

not listed

not listed

Urethane +

Acetylpromazine

1-1.30

1 mg/0.46 kg

IV

IM

13-23 hours of sedation

Paraldehyde

1 ml/kg

IM, IP or orally

3-5 hours (sedation)

Intermittent Bolus or Continuous IV Infusion Regimens

1. Sedate with fentanyl +

droperidol

.05 mg/kg

2.5 mg/kg

IM

 

Induce with infusion of

fentanyl + droperidol

2.4 mg

40 mg

in 100 ml of 5% dextrose, rate of 15-20 drops (volume of 17 ul/drop) per minute. Maintain with 15 drops/minute

IV

 

up to 6 hours

2. Dilute Hypnormâ

1:10

infuse 1-3

IV

1-12 hours

3. Midazolam +

Xylazine +

Alfentanil

1 mg/kg

1 mg/kg

0.1 mg/kg

IV

60 minutes

4. Sedate with Ketamine +

Xylazine

35 mg/kg

5 mg/kg

IM

IM

 

Maintain with Ketamine +

Xylazine

or

Ketamine +

Xylazine

1 mg/kg

0.1 mg/kg

25 mg/kg

5 mg/kg

continuous

IV infusion

1/3 bolus dose

initially, remainder over

4 minutes

60 minutes

5. Pentobarbital

40 mg/kg

1/3 bolus initially over 1

minute, remainder over 4 minutes

60 minutes

6. Propofol

sedate with 1.5 mg/kg

maintain with 0.2-0.6 mg/kg/min

IV bolus continuous

IV infusion

up to 40 minutes

7. Althesinâ

(Alphaxone +

+ Alphadolone)

sedate with 1 mg/kg

maintain with 0.1 mg/kg/min

IV bolus

continuous IV infusion

up to 40 minutes

Inhalants

     

Methoxyflurane

2-3% (induction)

0.5-2% (mainenance)

   

Halothane

3-5% (induction)

0.5-3% (maintenance)

   

Isoflurane

4.5-4% (induction)

2-3.5% (maintenance)

   

Nitrous Oxide

nitrous oxide - oxygen (2:1) as adjunct to halothane or isoflurane (2-4%)

   

* May cause severe nephrotoxicity