Iron Dextran: veterinary dose and monograph

At a glance

Drug class

Veterinary drug

Also known as

Imferon, Iron dextran injection, Ferridextran

Species with doses

Dogs, Cats, Pigs, Birds and Ferrets

Routes

IM

Last reviewed

1 October 2026

Indications

• Prevention of iron-deficiency anaemia in neonatal piglets (standard husbandry)
• Treatment of iron-deficiency anaemia when oral iron is inadequate/not tolerated (dogs, cats, foals, calves)
• Rapid parenteral iron replacement (e.g. chronic blood loss, certain anaemias)

Iron Dextran 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

• Iron-deficiency anaemia (parenteral): Papich 5e and Plumb’s p.665 (Weiser): 10–20 mg/kg IM once, followed by oral ferrous sulfate. Papich 5e (iron dextran/iron sucrose IV): 2–3 mg/kg slowly IV over 2–5 min, up to five times in 14 days. Anaphylactoid reactions possible.

Cats

• Iron-deficiency anaemia (e.g. with erythropoietin): Papich 5e: 50 mg IM every 3–4 weeks. Plumb’s p.665: 50 mg IM q3–4 weeks with erythropoietin when oral iron is not tolerated (Hoskins); 10 mg/kg IM every 3–4 weeks (Grauer); neonatal kittens 50 mg at 18 days of age (Weiser). Confirm iron deficiency first.

Horses

• No reference dose for this species: Neither Papich 5e nor Plumb’s gives an iron dextran dose for horses; true iron deficiency is rare in horses and parenteral iron has caused fatal reactions.

Pigs

• Piglet iron-deficiency anaemia prevention: Papich 5e: 100 mg (1 mL) IM to 2–4-day-old pigs, repeat in 10 days; or 200 mg (1 mL of the stronger product) at 1–3 days. Plumb’s p.665 (label): 100 mg at 2–4 days, repeat in 14–21 days. Deep IM in the neck. Vitamin E/selenium-deficient piglets can die after iron injection.

Birds

• Iron-deficiency anaemia / after haemorrhage: Plumb’s p.665 (Clubb 1986; McDonald 1989 — weekly). Not for iron-storage-susceptible species (e.g. mynahs, toucans).

Ferrets

• Iron-deficiency anaemia: Plumb’s p.665 (Williams 2000): ferrets 10 mg/kg IM once weekly.

Contraindications

Iron OVERLOAD / haemochromatosis or non-iron-deficiency anaemia. Selenium/vitamin-E-deficient piglets (risk of sudden death after iron injection — correct deficiency/ensure adequate Se-vit E). Active infection (free iron favours some pathogens). Hepatic/renal impairment (caution). Known hypersensitivity (anaphylactoid). Concurrent oral iron (overload).

Species-specific warnings

Pigs: Do not inject iron into selenium/vitamin-E-deficient piglets without correcting the deficiency — oxidative injury/sudden death can result. Give deep IM at 1–3 days of age.

Adverse effects

• Anaphylactoid/hypersensitivity reactions (especially rapid IV)
• Injection-site staining, pain, sterile abscess (IM)
• Iron toxicity / overload with excess dosing (GI, hepatic, cardiovascular)
• Sudden death in Se/vit-E-deficient piglets

Drug interactions

• Concurrent oral iron: risk of iron overload — avoid combining
• Chloramphenicol: may impair the haematologic response to iron
• Selenium/vitamin E status: deficiency increases iron-injection mortality risk in piglets

Pregnancy and lactation

Used in anaemic pregnant animals when iron-deficiency is confirmed; deep IM, watching for reactions.

Monitoring

• Haematologic response (PCV/haemoglobin/reticulocytes) and resolution of anaemia
• Anaphylactoid-reaction surveillance during/after injection
• Confirm true IRON-deficiency before parenteral iron (avoid overload)
• Piglet selenium/vitamin-E adequacy; injection-site reactions

Toxicity and overdose

Acute hazards are anaphylactoid reactions (especially rapid IV) and injection-site reactions/staining. IRON OVERDOSE/overload is toxic — GI irritation/haemorrhage, hepatic and cardiovascular injury, and metabolic acidosis (classic iron toxicosis, more relevant to oral over-ingestion). In selenium/vitamin-E-deficient piglets, even therapeutic iron injection can cause oxidative myodegeneration and sudden death.

Management: For iron overload/toxicosis, the chelator DEFEROXAMINE binds free iron for urinary excretion; provide supportive care (fluids, manage GI/hepatic effects, correct acidosis). Treat anaphylactoid reactions (antihistamine, corticosteroid, epinephrine if severe). Ensure adequate selenium/vitamin E in piglets.

Clinical pearls

• Standard piglet husbandry — a single IM iron injection at 1–3 days of age prevents the near-universal iron-deficiency anaemia of fast-growing baby pigs (milk is iron-poor)
• Give DEEP IM (it stains tissue) and watch for anaphylactoid reactions, especially with IV use
• In selenium/vitamin-E-deficient piglets, iron injection can trigger sudden death — ensure adequate Se/vit-E
• Reserve parenteral iron for confirmed iron deficiency when oral iron fails; deferoxamine is the antidote for iron overload

Mechanism of action

Iron dextran supplies elemental iron in a colloidal complex that is taken up by the reticuloendothelial system, where iron is released, bound to transferrin and incorporated into HAEMOGLOBIN (and stored as ferritin/haemosiderin) — correcting iron-deficiency anaemia by providing the iron needed for erythropoiesis. Parenteral delivery bypasses the limited intestinal absorption that constrains oral iron, allowing rapid repletion (essential in fast-growing, iron-deficient piglets).

Formulations and products

• Injection 100 mg/mL (elemental iron)
• Injection 200 mg/mL (piglet, e.g. 200 mg/dose)
• Iron dextran (vet, piglet) (Various) — 100 / 200 mg/mL elemental iron, IM injection
• Imferon / Iron dextran — 50 mg/mL injection, Injection (human-label)

Storage

Injection: 15–30 °C, protect from light; do not freeze. Deep IM (staining); shake/inspect before use.

Before you use this dose

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.

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Frequently asked questions