Acepromazine 10mg/ml Injection (50-mL multi-dose vial)

Pre-Anesthetic and Tranquilizer Injection for Dogs, Cats, and Horses

Product Description

Acepromazine Maleate Injection 10mg/mL is a prescription phenothiazine tranquilizer used by vets as a pre-anesthetic for dogs, cats, and horses. It calms the central nervous system, producing sedation and muscle relaxation without causing deep sleep. Each 50mL multidose vial holds 10mg per mL and can be given IV, IM, or SC for examinations, grooming, radiography, and minor procedures.

Benefits

• Rapid Pre-Anesthetic Sedation: Calms animals within minutes of injection, cutting down on how much general anesthetic is needed for the procedure.
• Multi-Route Administration: Can be given IV, IM, or SC, letting vets pick the best delivery method for each case.
• Intractable Animal Management: Helps keep difficult animals calm and safe during exams, grooming, radiography, and minor surgical procedures.
• No Hypnotic Effect: Unlike general anesthetics, this drug keeps animals sedated but responsive rather than putting them fully to sleep.
• Equine Procedure Support: Works well in horses with local anesthesia for procedures like castration, ocular surgery, and skin tumor removal.

Ingredients

Active Ingredients

Acepromazine Maleate 10mg/mL

Other Ingredients

Sodium citrate 0.36%, citric acid 0.075%, benzyl alcohol 1%, water for injection

How to Use

Acepromazine Maleate Injection 10mg/mL is a prescription-only medication. A valid veterinarian prescription is required to purchase this product.

Please follow your veterinarian's specific instructions for the dosage and administration of this medication for your animal.

Disclaimer: Dosage and administration of this medication must be determined by a licensed veterinarian. Always consult your veterinarian before administering or adjusting any prescription medication for your animal.

Additional Information

Precautions

• Allow 15 Minutes IV: After an IV dose, wait at least 15 minutes for the full effect before starting any procedure on the animal.
• Avoid in Seizure Disorders: Use with great caution or skip entirely in animals with a seizure history as this drug can lower the seizure threshold.
• Avoid in Shock: Do not use in animals that are in shock, severely debilitated, or have heart problems as severe low blood pressure can follow.
• Avoid in Brachycephalic Breeds: Use with great caution in flat-faced breeds like Bulldogs, Pugs, and Boxers due to their higher respiratory depression risk.
• Caution in Boxers: Boxer dogs are particularly sensitive to acepromazine and may experience profound cardiovascular depression even at normal doses.
• Keep Sedated Animals Warm: Body temperature can drop under sedation, so keep animals warm and watch them closely until fully recovered.
• Drug Interaction Risk: This drug can interact with antidiarrheals, antacids, and epinephrine, so let the vet know about every medication beforehand.

Possible Side Effects

• Low Blood Pressure: Weak, dehydrated, or heart-compromised animals are at the highest risk of a serious blood pressure drop after injection.
• Prolonged Sedation: Frail, young, or older animals can take much longer to come around, so watch them closely throughout.
• Seizure Aggravation: In susceptible animals, acepromazine may set off or worsen seizures and must be avoided in those with a known history.
• Penile Prolapse Horses: Male horses including stallions and geldings can develop persistent penile prolapse after receiving acepromazine, so this risk must be considered.

Storage Information

• Controlled Room Temperature: Store between 68°F and 77°F with excursions permitted between 59°F and 86°F in a cool, dry location.
• Use Within 6 Months: After the vial is first opened, use it within six months and throw out anything left after that point.
• Keep Out of Reach: Store in a secure location out of the reach of children and animals not currently being treated.

Note: For generic medications, the product image shown may not reflect the actual item received. Generic medications can vary in size, color, and shape between orders depending on the manufacturer. Additionally, your medication may arrive packaged in a HardyPaw Pharmacy vial.

Shipping & Return

We offer ground, express, and priority delivery; see our shipping policy for details.

For return instructions or product concerns, please refer to our detailed refund policy.

Prescription items are NON-RETURNABLE and NON-REFUNDABLE.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: What is acepromazine injection used for in dogs, cats, and horses?

Ans: Acepromazine is a pre-anesthetic and tranquilizer used to calm dogs, cats, and horses before procedures. It supports examinations, grooming, radiography, and horse loading, and cuts down on how much general anesthetic is needed during surgery. The vet sets the dose and route based on the animal's species, weight, and health.

Q2: Why should acepromazine be avoided or used with extreme caution in Boxer dogs?

Ans: Boxers have a well-documented sensitivity to acepromazine that can cause severe cardiovascular depression, dangerous drops in blood pressure, and collapse even at normal doses. Vets managing Boxers will usually pick a different pre-anesthetic or drop the dose significantly and watch heart function very closely throughout the procedure.

Q3: Can acepromazine be used in animals with a history of seizures?

Ans: Acepromazine lowers the seizure threshold and can trigger or make existing seizures worse, so it is best avoided in animals with any known seizure history. Vets will usually reach for a safer alternative sedative in these cases. Always give the vet a full medical history including any past seizure events before any procedure.

Q4: How long does acepromazine sedation last in dogs and cats?

Ans: Four to eight hours is the usual window, though dose, route, and how the animal is doing all play a role. Frail, very young, or older patients often take longer to bounce back. Stay nearby, keep the animal warm, and wait until it is steady on its feet before leaving it unsupervised.

Q5: What precaution applies specifically to male horses receiving acepromazine?

Ans: Male horses including stallions and geldings can develop persistent penile prolapse after receiving acepromazine, which may last well beyond the sedation period. This is a well-known risk in equine practice and something vets will bring up when planning sedation for intact male horses before going ahead with any protocol.