# Iron Dextran: veterinary dose and monograph

> Iron Dextran is a veterinary drug. A parenteral IRON preparation whose dominant veterinary use is PREVENTION of IRON-DEFICIENCY ANAEMIA in NEONATAL PIGLETS — baby pigs are born iron-deficient and sow milk is iron-poor, so a single IM injection (~100–200 mg) at 1–3 days of… Indications include 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). This monograph lists 5 reference doses for dogs, cats, pigs, birds and ferrets, each with route, frequency and source, plus meat and milk withdrawal periods for food animals.

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

## 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 Dextran doses for dogs*

| Indication | Dose | Route | Frequency | Duration |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Iron-deficiency anaemia (parenteral) | 10–20 mg/kg | IM | once, then oral iron | — |

- 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 Dextran doses for cats*

| Indication | Dose | Route | Frequency | Duration |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Iron-deficiency anaemia (e.g. with erythropoietin) | 50 mg per cat IM every 3–4 weeks (or 10 mg/kg IM every 3–4 weeks) | IM | every 3–4 weeks | — |

- 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

*Iron Dextran doses for horses*

| Indication | Dose | Route | Frequency | Duration |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| No reference dose for this species | Not established in Papich 5e or Plumb’s 10e — do not extrapolate from another species | — | — | — |

- 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

*Iron Dextran doses for pigs*

| Indication | Dose | Route | Frequency | Duration | Withdrawal |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Piglet iron-deficiency anaemia prevention | 100 mg iron IM at 2–4 days old (repeat at 10–21 days), or 200 mg IM once at 1–3 days old | IM | once (± repeat) | — | no slaughter withdrawal |

- 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 Dextran doses for birds*

| Indication | Dose | Route | Frequency | Duration |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Iron-deficiency anaemia / after haemorrhage | 10 mg/kg | IM | repeat in 7–10 days if PCV not normal | — |

- 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 Dextran doses for ferrets*

| Indication | Dose | Route | Frequency | Duration |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Iron-deficiency anaemia | 10 mg/kg | IM | once weekly | — |

- 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

> **Caution:** 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

> **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.

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## Frequently asked questions

### What is the dose of Iron Dextran for dogs?

Reference doses for Iron Dextran in dogs: 10–20 mg/kg IM once, then oral iron (Iron-deficiency anaemia (parenteral)). Confirm against the label and the patient before use.

### What is the dose of Iron Dextran for cats?

Reference doses for Iron Dextran in cats: 50 mg per cat IM every 3–4 weeks (or 10 mg/kg IM every 3–4 weeks) IM every 3–4 weeks (Iron-deficiency anaemia (e.g. with erythropoietin)). Confirm against the label and the patient before use.

### Can Iron Dextran be given to horses?

Not established in Papich 5e or Plumb’s 10e — do not extrapolate from another species (No reference dose for this species).

### What is the withdrawal period for Iron Dextran?

Pigs, IM (Piglet iron-deficiency anaemia prevention): no slaughter withdrawal. Follow the product label and national regulations where they differ.

### When should Iron Dextran not be used?

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).

### What are the side effects of Iron Dextran in animals?

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.

## Sources

- Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook
- Merck Veterinary Manual, 11th edition
- 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.