# Detomidine: veterinary dose and monograph

> Detomidine is a veterinary sedative or anaesthetic agent. Potent alpha-2 adrenergic agonist for standing sedation and analgesia in horses and cattle — more potent and longer-acting than xylazine. Indications include standing sedation for diagnostics, dentistry and minor surgery (horse); premedication before general anaesthesia; short-term visceral analgesia in colic. This monograph lists 10 reference doses for dogs, cattle, horses, goats, sheep and camelids, each with route, frequency and source, plus meat and milk withdrawal periods for food animals.

Source: https://vetmasterji.com/drugs/detomidine · Last reviewed: 2026-10-01

## At a glance

- **Drug class:** Sedative / anaesthetic
- **Also known as:** Domosedan, Dormosedan
- **Species with doses:** Dogs, Cattle, Horses, Goats, Sheep and Camelids
- **General dose range:** 0.01–0.04 mg/kg IV once (repeat to effect) — check the species tables for the indication
- **Routes:** IV, PO, Epidural, IM
- **Last reviewed:** 1 October 2026

## Indications

- Standing sedation for diagnostics, dentistry and minor surgery (horse)
- Premedication before general anaesthesia
- Short-term visceral analgesia in colic
- Restraint of cattle

## Detomidine dose by species

Doses are per administration unless stated. mg/kg doses scale with body weight; per-animal, per-quarter and infusion-rate doses are shown as the reference writes them.

### Dogs

*Detomidine doses for dogs*

| Indication | Dose | Route | Frequency | Duration |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Sedation (injectable) | 0.005–0.02 mg/kg | IM | once | — |

- Sedation (injectable): Papich 5e: dogs 5 µg/kg IV or 10–20 µg/kg IM. Oral mucosal gel: 0.5 mg/m² for mild sedation, 1 mg/m² for heavier sedation, applied to the upper gingiva. Reverse with atipamezole 0.1 mg/kg IM.

### Cattle

*Detomidine doses for cattle*

| Indication | Dose | Route | Frequency | Duration | Withdrawal |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Sedation / restraint | 0.005–0.04 mg/kg | IM | once | — | 7d slaughter / 72h milk |
| Analgesia / sedation (IV) | 0.002–0.01 mg/kg | IV | once (≈30 min effect) | — | 7d slaughter / 72h milk |

- Sedation / restraint: Papich 5e: cattle 5–40 µg/kg IM or 2–10 µg/kg IV. Plumb’s p.366: sedation/analgesia 30–60 µg/kg IV or IM (Alitalo 1986, not FDA-approved); analgesia 0.01 mg/kg IV lasting about 30 min, with withdrawal milk 72 h and slaughter 7 days (Walz 2006). Avoid in late pregnancy.
- Analgesia / sedation (IV): Papich 5e: cattle 2–10 µg/kg IV; calves 30 µg/kg IV. Plumb’s p.366 (Walz 2006): 0.01 mg/kg IV, about 30 min of analgesia; milk 72 h, slaughter 7 days.

### Horses

*Detomidine doses for horses*

| Indication | Dose | Route | Frequency | Duration |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Standing sedation | 0.01–0.04 mg/kg | IV | once, redose to effect | — |
| Sublingual gel (field sedation) | 0.04 mg/kg | PO | once under the tongue | — |
| Standing sedation CRI | 0.1–0.6 µg/kg/min | IV | CRI after 7.5–10 µg/kg IV bolus | — |
| Caudal epidural analgesia | 0.03–0.06 mg/kg | Epidural | single | — |

- Standing sedation: Papich 5e and Plumb’s p.365 (label): 20–40 µg/kg IV or IM — the lower dose gives 30–90 min sedation, the higher 90–120 min; 10–20 µg/kg is often used first and repeated (Papich), and for colic analgesia (Moore 1999). Draft horses as little as 5 µg/kg. Do not confuse µg/kg with mg/kg. ARCI Class 3.
- Sublingual gel (field sedation): Papich 5e and Plumb’s p.365 (Dormosedan Gel label): 0.04 mg/kg placed under the tongue — not to be swallowed; dosing syringe delivers 0.25 mL steps. Onset about 40 min; withhold feed until effect wears off.
- Standing sedation CRI: Papich 5e: 10 µg/kg IV bolus, then 0.5 µg/kg/min for 15 min, reducing progressively to 0.1 µg/kg/min. Plumb’s p.365 (Mogg 2006): 7.5–8.4 µg/kg bolus, then 0.5–0.6 µg/kg/min for 15 min, halving every 15 min. Often needs local anaesthesia or butorphanol as well.
- Caudal epidural analgesia: Plumb’s p.365 (Muir 2004): 0.06 mg/kg between S4–S5 (2–3 h analgesia), or 0.03 mg/kg with morphine 0.2 mg/kg (over 6 h).

### Goats

*Detomidine doses for goats*

| Indication | Dose | Route | Frequency | Duration | Withdrawal |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Sedation / restraint (extra-label) | 0.005–0.05 mg/kg | IM | once | — | Withdrawal NOT established — treat as extra-label |

- Sedation / restraint (extra-label): Plumb’s p.366 (Haskell 2005): sheep and goats — analgesia 0.005–0.05 mg/kg IV or IM (q3–6h, once); anaesthesia 0.01 mg/kg IM followed by propofol 3–5 mg/kg IV. Start at the low end; reverse with atipamezole. Extra-label — obtain a FARAD withdrawal.

### Sheep

*Detomidine doses for sheep*

| Indication | Dose | Route | Frequency | Duration | Withdrawal |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Sedation / restraint (extra-label) | 0.005–0.05 mg/kg | IM | once | — | Withdrawal NOT established — treat as extra-label |

- Sedation / restraint (extra-label): Plumb’s p.366 (Haskell 2005): sheep and goats — analgesia 0.005–0.05 mg/kg IV or IM (q3–6h, once); anaesthesia 0.01 mg/kg IM followed by propofol 3–5 mg/kg IV. Watch for hypoxaemia; reverse with atipamezole. Extra-label — obtain a FARAD withdrawal.

### Buffalo

No buffalo-specific doses are on file, so buffalo are dosed as cattle.

*Detomidine doses for buffalo*

| Indication | Dose | Route | Frequency | Duration | Withdrawal |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Sedation / restraint | 0.005–0.04 mg/kg | IM | once | — | 7d slaughter / 72h milk |
| Analgesia / sedation (IV) | 0.002–0.01 mg/kg | IV | once (≈30 min effect) | — | 7d slaughter / 72h milk |

- Sedation / restraint: Papich 5e: cattle 5–40 µg/kg IM or 2–10 µg/kg IV. Plumb’s p.366: sedation/analgesia 30–60 µg/kg IV or IM (Alitalo 1986, not FDA-approved); analgesia 0.01 mg/kg IV lasting about 30 min, with withdrawal milk 72 h and slaughter 7 days (Walz 2006). Avoid in late pregnancy.
- Analgesia / sedation (IV): Papich 5e: cattle 2–10 µg/kg IV; calves 30 µg/kg IV. Plumb’s p.366 (Walz 2006): 0.01 mg/kg IV, about 30 min of analgesia; milk 72 h, slaughter 7 days.

### Camelids

*Detomidine doses for camelids*

| Indication | Dose | Route | Frequency | Duration |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Analgesia / sedation | 0.005–0.05 mg/kg | IM | once (q3–6h) | — |

- Analgesia / sedation: Plumb’s p.366 (Haskell 2005): llamas and alpacas 0.005–0.05 mg/kg IV or IM.

## Contraindications

Cardiac disease / arrhythmia (AV block, bradycardia). Hypotension / shock. Last-trimester cattle (uterine effects). Combine cautiously with potentiated sulfonamides (fatal arrhythmias reported with alpha-2s in horses).

## Species-specific warnings

> **Caution:** Horses: Do NOT co-administer with potentiated sulfonamides (TMP-sulfa) — fatal dysrhythmias have been reported with alpha-2 + sulfonamide in horses.

## Adverse effects

- Bradycardia, second-degree AV block
- Transient hypertension then hypotension
- Marked diuresis, sweating (horses), ataxia
- Reduced GI motility

## Drug interactions

- Other alpha-2 agonists (xylazine, medetomidine, romifidine, clonidine — and epinephrine): NOT recommended together with detomidine, effects may be additive
- Anaesthetics, opiates, sedative/hypnotics: additive effects, dose reduction of one or both may be required; increased risk of ARRHYTHMIAS in combination with thiopental, ketamine or halothane
- Phenothiazines (e.g. acepromazine): SEVERE HYPOTENSION can result
- Epinephrine: since epinephrine has alpha-agonist effects, do NOT use it to treat cardiac effects caused by detomidine
- Other sedatives or analgesics: the manufacturer warns to use with extreme caution in combination

## Pregnancy and lactation

Alpha-2 agonists increase uterine tone — avoid in late-gestation cattle; use the lowest effective dose in pregnant mares.

## Toxicity and overdose

Plumb's p.365: the manufacturer states horses tolerate 5x the high dose level (0.2 mg/kg against a 0.04 mg/kg high dose). Doses of 0.4 mg/kg daily for 3 consecutive days produced microscopic foci of MYOCARDIAL NECROSIS in 1 of 8 horses. Doses of 10–40x the recommended level can cause severe respiratory and cardiovascular changes that may become irreversible and fatal. Reversal: yohimbine or atipamezole can reverse some or all effects — atipamezole at 50–100 micrograms/kg has been used successfully to treat inadvertent detomidine overdose in horses.

## Clinical pearls

- Give IV and wait — let the horse lower its head before you start; redose rather than over-dosing up front
- Pair with butorphanol for reliable standing chemical restraint
- Keep atipamezole / tolazoline on hand to reverse excessive depth

## Mechanism of action

Plumb's p.365: alpha-2 adrenergic agonist, like xylazine, producing dose-dependent sedation and analgesia together with cardiac and respiratory effects. The number that matters clinically: detomidine is approximately 50–100 TIMES as potent as xylazine, so the two are not interchangeable on a mg basis. Well absorbed orally but used only parenterally; rapidly distributed into tissues including brain after parenteral dosing, extensively metabolised and excreted primarily in urine. Peak sedation in horses occurs 5–20 minutes after injection.

## Formulations and products

- Domosedan 10 mg/mL injection
- Dormosedan sublingual gel 7.6 mg/mL

## Before you use this dose

> **Caution:** Reference doses for veterinary professionals. Confirm the dose against the product label, the patient’s condition, current guidance and local regulations before use; the attending veterinarian remains responsible for every clinical decision.

## Other sedatives and anaesthetics

- [Acepromazine](https://vetmasterji.com/drugs/acepromazine)
- [Alfaxalone](https://vetmasterji.com/drugs/alfaxalone)
- [Azaperone](https://vetmasterji.com/drugs/azaperone)
- [Dexmedetomidine](https://vetmasterji.com/drugs/dexmedetomidine)
- [Diazepam](https://vetmasterji.com/drugs/diazepam)
- [Etomidate](https://vetmasterji.com/drugs/etomidate)
- [Guaifenesin (GGE)](https://vetmasterji.com/drugs/guaifenesin)
- [Isoflurane](https://vetmasterji.com/drugs/isoflurane)

## Frequently asked questions

### What is the dose of Detomidine for dogs?

Reference doses for Detomidine in dogs: 0.005–0.02 mg/kg IM once (Sedation (injectable)). Confirm against the label and the patient before use.

### What is the dose of Detomidine for cattle?

Reference doses for Detomidine in cattle: 0.005–0.04 mg/kg IM once (Sedation / restraint); 0.002–0.01 mg/kg IV once (≈30 min effect) (Analgesia / sedation (IV)). Confirm against the label and the patient before use.

### What is the dose of Detomidine for horses?

Reference doses for Detomidine in horses: 0.01–0.04 mg/kg IV once, redose to effect (Standing sedation); 0.04 mg/kg PO once under the tongue (Sublingual gel (field sedation)); 0.1–0.6 µg/kg/min IV CRI after 7.5–10 µg/kg IV bolus (Standing sedation CRI); 0.03–0.06 mg/kg Epidural single (Caudal epidural analgesia). Confirm against the label and the patient before use.

### What is the withdrawal period for Detomidine?

Cattle, IM (Sedation / restraint): 7d slaughter / 72h milk; Cattle, IV (Analgesia / sedation (IV)): 7d slaughter / 72h milk; Goats, IM (Sedation / restraint (extra-label)): Withdrawal NOT established — treat as extra-label; Sheep, IM (Sedation / restraint (extra-label)): Withdrawal NOT established — treat as extra-label. Follow the product label and national regulations where they differ.

### When should Detomidine not be used?

Cardiac disease / arrhythmia (AV block, bradycardia). Hypotension / shock. Last-trimester cattle (uterine effects). Combine cautiously with potentiated sulfonamides (fatal arrhythmias reported with alpha-2s in horses).

### What are the side effects of Detomidine in animals?

Bradycardia, second-degree AV block; Transient hypertension then hypotension; Marked diuresis, sweating (horses), ataxia; Reduced GI motility.

## Sources

- Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook
- Papich, Papich Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 5th edition

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VetMasterJi is a clinical decision-support and education platform for veterinary professionals and students. It does not provide veterinary advice, diagnosis or treatment for specific animals. All drug doses, calculators and differentials are references that must be independently verified before clinical use; the attending registered veterinarian remains solely responsible for every clinical decision.