Doses - ACEPROMAZINE MALEATE
Note: The manufacturer's dose of 0.5 - 2.2 mg/kg for dogs and cats is considered bymany clinicians to be 10 times greater than is necessary for most indications. Give IV doses slowly;allow at least 15 minutes for onset of action.Dogs:
a) Premedication: 0.03 - 0.05 mg/kg IM or 1 - 3 mg/kg PO at least one hour prior to surgery (not as reliable). (Hall and Clarke 1983)
b) Restraint/sedation: 0.025 - 0.2 mg/kg IV; maximum of 3 mg or 0.1 - 0.25 mg/kg IM.
Preanesthetic: 0.1 - 0.2mg/kg IV or IM; max. of 3 mg; 0.05 - 1 mg/kg IV, IM or SQ. (Morgan 1988)
c) 0.1 mg/kg IM or IV q8h (Davis 1985b)
d) 0.55 - 2.2 mg/kg PO or 0.55 - 1.1 mg/kg IV, IM or SQ (Package Insert, PromAce® - Fort Dodge)
e) 0.55 - 2.2 mg/kg PO or 0.055 - 0.11 mg/kg IV, IM or SQ (Kirk 1986)Cats:
a) Restraint/sedation: 0.05 - 0.1 mg/kg IV, maximum of 1 mg (Morgan 1988)
b) 0.1 mg/kg IM or IV once daily (Davis 1985b)
c) 1.1 - 2.2 mg/kg PO, IV, IM or SQ (Package Insert, PromAce® - Fort Dodge)
d) 0.055 - 0.11 mg/kg IM or SQ or 1.1 - 2.2 mg/kg PO (Kirk 1986)
e) 0.11 mg/kg with atropine (0.045 - 0.067 mg/kg) 15-20 minutes prior to ketamine (22 mg/kg IM). (Booth 1988a)Rabbits:
a) As a tranquilizer: 1 mg/kg IM, effect should begin in 10 minutes and last for 1-2 hours (Booth 1988a)Cattle:
a) Sedation: 0.01 - 0.02 mg/kg IV or 0.03 - 0.1 mg/kg IM (Booth 1988a)
b) 0.05 - 0.1 mg/kg IV, IM or SQ (Howard 1986)
c) Sedative one hour prior to local anesthesia: 0.1 mg/kg IM (Hall and Clarke 1983)Horses:
a) 0.04 - 0.1 mg/kg IV or IM (Robinson 1987)
b) 0.044 - 0.088 mg/kg (2 - 4 mg/100 lbs. body weight) IV, IM or SQ (Package Insert, PromAce® - Fort Dodge)
c) 0.02 - 0.05 mg/kg IM or IV as a preanesthetic (Booth 1988a)
d) Neuroleptanalgesia:0.02 mg/kg given with buprenorphine (0.004 mg/kg IV) or xylazine (0.6 mg/kg IV) (Thurmon and Benson 1987)Swine:
a) 0.1 - 0.2 mg/kg IV, IM, or SQ (Howard 1986)
b) 0.03 - 0.1 mg/kg (Hall and Clarke 1983)
c) For brief periods of immobilization: acepromazine 0.5 mg/kg IM followed in 30 minutes by ketamine 15 mg/kg IM. Atropine (0.044 mg/kg IM) will reduce salivation and bronchial secretions. (Lumb and Jones 1984)Sheep & Goats:
a) 0.05 - 0.1 mg/kg IM (Hall and Clarke 1983)
Monitoring Parameters -1) Cardiac rate/rhythm/blood pressure if indicated and possible to measure 2) Degree of tranquilization 3) Male horses should be checked to make sure penis retracts and is not injured. 4) Body temperature (especially if ambient temperature is very hot or cold)
Client Information/FDA Approval Status - May discolor the urine to a pink or red-brown color; this is not abnormal.
Acepromazine is approved for use in dogs, cats, and horses not intended for food.
Dosage Forms/Preparations/FDA Approval Status/Withholding Times - Veterinary-Approved Products:
Acepromazine Maleate for Injection 10 mg/ml for injection in 50 ml vials;PromAce® (Fort
Dodge); generic; (Rx). Approved for use in dogs, cats and horses not intended for food.
Acepromazine Maleate Tablets 5, 10, & 25 mg in bottles of 100 and 500 tablets; PromAce® (Fort Dodge); generic; (Rx). Approved for use in dogs, cats and horses not intended for food.
Human-Approved Products: None
Dogs: 
a) Premedication: 0.03 - 0.05 mg/kg IM or 1 - 3 mg/kg PO at least one hour prior to surgery (not as reliable). (Hall and Clarke 1983) b) Restraint/sedation: 0.025 - 0.2 mg/kg IV; maximum of 3 mg or 0.1 - 0.25 mg/kg IM.
Preanesthetic: 0.1 - 0.2mg/kg IV or IM; max. of 3 mg; 0.05 - 1 mg/kg IV, IM or SQ. (Morgan 1988)
c) 0.1 mg/kg IM or IV q8h (Davis 1985b)
d) 0.55 - 2.2 mg/kg PO or 0.55 - 1.1 mg/kg IV, IM or SQ (Package Insert, PromAce® - Fort Dodge)
e) 0.55 - 2.2 mg/kg PO or 0.055 - 0.11 mg/kg IV, IM or SQ (Kirk 1986)
Cats: 
a) Restraint/sedation: 0.05 - 0.1 mg/kg IV, maximum of 1 mg (Morgan 1988) b) 0.1 mg/kg IM or IV once daily (Davis 1985b)
c) 1.1 - 2.2 mg/kg PO, IV, IM or SQ (Package Insert, PromAce® - Fort Dodge)
d) 0.055 - 0.11 mg/kg IM or SQ or 1.1 - 2.2 mg/kg PO (Kirk 1986)
e) 0.11 mg/kg with atropine (0.045 - 0.067 mg/kg) 15-20 minutes prior to ketamine (22 mg/kg IM). (Booth 1988a)
Rabbits:
a) As a tranquilizer: 1 mg/kg IM, effect should begin in 10 minutes and last for 1-2 hours (Booth 1988a)Cattle: 
a) Sedation: 0.01 - 0.02 mg/kg IV or 0.03 - 0.1 mg/kg IM (Booth 1988a) b) 0.05 - 0.1 mg/kg IV, IM or SQ (Howard 1986)
c) Sedative one hour prior to local anesthesia: 0.1 mg/kg IM (Hall and Clarke 1983)
Horses: 
a) 0.04 - 0.1 mg/kg IV or IM (Robinson 1987) b) 0.044 - 0.088 mg/kg (2 - 4 mg/100 lbs. body weight) IV, IM or SQ (Package Insert, PromAce® - Fort Dodge)
c) 0.02 - 0.05 mg/kg IM or IV as a preanesthetic (Booth 1988a)
d) Neuroleptanalgesia:0.02 mg/kg given with buprenorphine (0.004 mg/kg IV) or xylazine (0.6 mg/kg IV) (Thurmon and Benson 1987)
Swine: 
a) 0.1 - 0.2 mg/kg IV, IM, or SQ (Howard 1986) b) 0.03 - 0.1 mg/kg (Hall and Clarke 1983)
c) For brief periods of immobilization: acepromazine 0.5 mg/kg IM followed in 30 minutes by ketamine 15 mg/kg IM. Atropine (0.044 mg/kg IM) will reduce salivation and bronchial secretions. (Lumb and Jones 1984)
Sheep & Goats:
a) 0.05 - 0.1 mg/kg IM (Hall and Clarke 1983) Monitoring Parameters -
Client Information/FDA Approval Status - May discolor the urine to a pink or red-brown color; this is not abnormal.
Acepromazine is approved for use in dogs, cats, and horses not intended for food.
Dosage Forms/Preparations/FDA Approval Status/Withholding Times - Veterinary-Approved Products:
Acepromazine Maleate for Injection 10 mg/ml for injection in 50 ml vials;PromAce® (Fort
Dodge); generic; (Rx). Approved for use in dogs, cats and horses not intended for food.
Acepromazine Maleate Tablets 5, 10, & 25 mg in bottles of 100 and 500 tablets; PromAce® (Fort Dodge); generic; (Rx). Approved for use in dogs, cats and horses not intended for food.
Human-Approved Products: None