Merck Manual

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Dosage of Tranquilizers and Sedatives without Analgesic Effects

Dosage of Tranquilizers and Sedatives without Analgesic Effects

Drug

Dogs

Cats

Ferrets

Rabbits

Horses

Cattle

Pigs

Benzodiazepines

Diazepam

1 mg/kg, IV or PO

1 mg/kg, IV

2 mg/kg, IM

1–5 mg/kg, IV, IM; 2–10 mg/kg, IM or IP

0.05–0.4 mg/kg, IV

0.5–1.5 mg/kg, IV

0.5–10 mg/kg, IM; 0.5–1.5 mg/kg, IV

Midazolam

0.2–0.4 mg/kg, IV or IM

0.2–0.4 mg/kg, IV or IM

2 mg/kg, IM or IV

Butyrophenone

Azaperone

0.4–0.8 mg/kg, IM

2.2 mg/kg, IM

Phenothiazines

Acepromazine maleate

0.05–0.1 mg/kg, IV, IM, or SC; 0.55–2.2 mg/kg, PO, tid-qid

0.11–0.22 mg/kg, IV, IM, or SC; 1.1–2.2 mg/kg, PO, bid-tid

0.1–0.25 mg/kg, IM or SC

1–5 mg/kg, IM

0.04–0.1 mg/kg/day, IV, IM, SC, or PO

0.05–0.1 mg/kg, IV, IM, or SC

0.1–0.2 mg/kg, IV, IM, or SC

Chlorpromazine hydrochloride

0.55–4.4 mg/kg, IV; 1.1–6.6 mg/kg, IM; 3.2 mg/kg, PO, tid-qid as needed

1–2 mg/kg, IV or IM, bid

3 mg/kg, IV or IM (may produce myositis)

0.5–4 mg/kg, IM

Promazine hydrochloride

2–6 mg/kg, IV, IM, or PO, tid-qid

2–4.4 mg/kg, IV, IM, or PO, tid-qid

0.4–1 mg/kg, IV or IM; 1–2 mg/kg, PO

0.4–1 mg/kg, IV or IM; 1.6–2.8 mg/kg, PO

0.4–1 mg/kg, IV or IM

Triflupromazine hydrochloride

1.1–2.2 mg/kg, IV; 2.2–4.4 mg/kg, IM

4.4–8.8 mg/kg, IM

0.22–0.33 mg/kg, IV or IM (maximum 100 mg/horse/day)