Acepromazine Tablets, 25mg

Prescription Sedation Tablets for Pre-Procedure Calming in Pets

Product Description

Acepromazine Maleate 25mg Tablets are a prescription phenothiazine tranquilizer that veterinarians use to sedate dogs and cats before veterinary procedures and to ease motion sickness during travel. It works by dampening activity in the central nervous system, producing a calm, tranquilized state without putting the pet fully under. The 25mg strength is the highest available tablet concentration and is most commonly used for larger dogs where lower strengths would require multiple tablets. It is important to note that while acepromazine produces sedation, it does not take away the pet's underlying fear or anxiety.

Benefits

• Pre-Anesthetic Sedation: Reduces the total amount of general anesthetic needed during surgery by producing reliable pre-procedure tranquilization in dogs and cats.
• Motion Sickness Prevention: Reduces nausea and vomiting associated with car travel and motion sickness in dogs and cats during journeys.
• Procedure and Examination Calming: Helps dogs and cats stay settled during veterinary examinations, radiography, grooming, and minor clinical procedures.
• Large Dog Convenience: The 25mg strength provides the correct single-tablet dose for many large and giant breed dogs, simplifying administration.
• Scored for Flexible Dosing: Each tablet is scored to allow clean and accurate splitting for precise weight-based dosing across different patient sizes.

Ingredients

Active Ingredients

Acepromazine Maleate 25mg

How to Use

Acepromazine Maleate 25mg Tablets are 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 pet.

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 pet.

Tucking it inside a soft pill pocket or wrapping it in a pill wrap treat is one of the easiest ways to make the whole process stress-free.

Shop Pill Pockets for Dogs | Shop Pill Pockets for Cats

Additional Information

Precautions

• Never Use for Air Travel: Acepromazine is not recommended before air travel as altitude effects can unpredictably intensify sedation and cardiovascular depression in pets.
• Avoid in Seizure Disorders: Do not use in animals with a known seizure history, as this medication lowers the seizure threshold in susceptible animals.
• Avoid in Shock and Debilitation: Do not use in severely debilitated, dehydrated, or hemodynamically compromised animals due to serious hypotension risk.
• Boxer Breed Sensitivity: Boxer dogs are highly sensitive to acepromazine and may experience profound cardiovascular collapse at standard therapeutic doses.
• Caution in Brachycephalic Breeds: Use with extra care in short-nosed breeds such as Bulldogs, Pugs, and Shih Tzus due to their sensitivity to respiratory depression.
• Keep Sedated Animals Warm: Acepromazine impairs normal thermoregulation; sedated animals must be kept warm and closely supervised throughout their recovery period.
• Check for Drug Interactions: Let your vet know if your pet is currently on narcotics, barbiturates, propranolol, or antidiarrheals before acepromazine is given.

Possible Side Effects

• Prolonged Sedation: Effects may last up to 24 hours and can run considerably longer in elderly, young, or debilitated animals who need close monitoring throughout.
• Pink to Reddish-Brown Urine: A harmless and expected urine discoloration may appear and resolves on its own as the medication clears from the body.
• Third Eyelid Protrusion: Elevation of the third eyelid across the eye is a common, harmless, and fully reversible effect of acepromazine sedation in pets.
• Paradoxical Behavioral Reactions: Unexpected aggression, biting, and extreme nervousness are rare but have been reported and require immediate veterinary contact if they occur.
• Dangerous Hypotension: Severe low blood pressure causing weakness or collapse is a serious adverse effect that needs immediate emergency veterinary attention.

Storage Information

• Room Temperature Storage: Store tablets in a tightly closed container away from heat and humidity, keeping conditions stable and consistent between doses.
• Protect from Light and Moisture: A dark, dry storage location away from direct sunlight is the best way to keep these tablets at their full strength.
• Keep Out of Reach: Always store this medication somewhere secure and out of reach of children and untreated pets.

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: Does acepromazine reduce anxiety in dogs and cats or only cause sedation?

Ans: Acepromazine produces physical sedation and muscle relaxation, but it does not touch the emotional side of things. A pet that looks calm on the outside may still be experiencing significant fear underneath. When genuine anxiety relief is needed alongside sedation, vets will often add a separate anxiolytic to the plan.

Q2: Why is acepromazine not recommended for pets travelling by air?

Ans: The conditions inside an aircraft at altitude can push the cardiovascular and respiratory effects of acepromazine in an unpredictable direction, making it harder to manage if something goes wrong mid-flight. Most veterinary bodies advise against sedating pets for air travel for this reason. Your vet can suggest alternatives that are better suited to the situation.

Q3: How long before a procedure should acepromazine 25mg be given to dogs and cats?

Ans: Acepromazine needs enough lead time to be properly absorbed and reach its peak effect before the procedure begins. Giving it too close to the event means it may not have fully kicked in when it is needed most. Your vet will advise on the right timing window based on your pet's size, health status, and what the procedure involves.

Q4: What makes Boxer dogs particularly sensitive to acepromazine?

Ans: Boxers have a breed-specific quirk in how their cardiovascular system responds to acepromazine, making them far more vulnerable to serious drops in blood pressure and potential collapse than most other breeds. It is not simply a matter of dose. Vets working with Boxers will either use a much lower amount than usual or avoid the medication altogether and choose a different sedative.

Q5: What should I do if my pet shows unusual aggression after receiving acepromazine tablets?

Ans: Some pets react to acepromazine in a way that goes completely against what the medication is supposed to do, becoming agitated, snappy, or highly unsettled rather than calm. It is uncommon but recognised. Get in touch with your vet without delay if this happens, and make sure your pet is in a secure space where nobody gets hurt in the meantime.

Clinical Research

https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/fda/fdaDrugXsl.cfm?setid=6c3301b6-7bfe-41ce-91b6-c1e7f14bf2e4

https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/health/acepromazine-for-dogs/

https://animaldrugsatfda.fda.gov/adafda/app/search/public/document/downloadFoi/14444