Acepromazine for Dogs: Calm Your Pup During Vet Visits or Travel
Key takeaways:
Acepromazine is a sedative medication that’s sometimes used to calm dogs during potentially stressful events, like veterinary visits, grooming appointments, or travel.
Acepromazine can be given to dogs as a tablet at home or as an injection in a veterinary hospital.
Side effects of acepromazine can include decreased blood pressure, heart rate, or respiratory rate and lowered ability to regulate body temperature.
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Table of contents
Dogs sometimes need sedation for a variety of reasons. Perhaps your dog is having X-rays taken and needs to lie very still. Maybe they resist grooming or nail trims and need some help remaining calm. Or they could just get anxious while riding in the car.
A sedative, like acepromazine (PromAce, Aceprotabs), can be used to help your dog during potentially stressful events. But acepromazine, like other sedatives, can have side effects. Learn about the uses and potential side effects of acepromazine for dogs, below.
Acepromazine for dogs at a glance
Common names | Acepromazine (PromAce, Aceprotabs) |
What it treats | Restlessness during travel, veterinary visits, and other potentially stressful events |
How it comes (forms) | Tablet or injection |
Common side effects | Decreased blood pressure, heart rate, or respiratory rate; less ability to regulate body temperature |
What is acepromazine for dogs, and how does it work?
Acepromazine is primarily used as a sedative for dogs. It’s FDA approved to help dogs that are excessively restless during travel, veterinary visits, or other potentially stressful events. Sedation can reduce a dog’s risk of injuring themselves, their owner, or a member of their veterinary team.
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It’s important to keep in mind, however, acepromazine doesn’t alleviate anxiety. If your dog is often anxious, your veterinarian may prescribe them anti-anxiety medication instead of acepromazine.
Beyond its calming effects, acepromazine also has other benefits:
It reduces nausea, which can make it a valuable sedative for dogs who get motion sickness when they travel.
It can be used to treat some toxicities, as well as tetanus infection.
It can be used to treat high blood pressure and/or slow an elevated heart rate.
Acepromazine is also used in veterinary hospitals. Veterinarians often give dogs acepromazine before anesthesia for sedation and to reduce the risk of vomiting. Veterinarians also use acepromazine to sedate pets for nail trims, X-rays, and other procedures.
How is acepromazine given to dogs, and what is the typical dosage?
Acepromazine is available in both oral (tablet) and injectable forms. The oral tables come in 10 mg or 25 mg doses. Your veterinarian will determine the best dosage for your dog based on the degree of sedation required and your dog’s health status. Low dosages are often used for mild sedation, while higher dosages may be needed for heavier sedation in younger, healthy dogs.
What are the common side effects of acepromazine in dogs?
Common acepromazine side effects in dogs include:
Decreased blood pressure
Decreased heart rate
Decreased respiratory rate
Less ability to regulate body temperature
Behavior changes, such as increased anxiety
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Because of these side effects, acepromazine is not recommended for all dogs. A dog with heart problems, for example, may not tolerate the cardiovascular changes associated with acepromazine.
Acepromazine can also increase the risk of hypothermia (low body temperature) for dogs flying in the cargo hold of an airplane. Your veterinarian will determine whether acepromazine is appropriate for your dog based on the unique circumstances.
What are the most serious risks of acepromazine for dogs?
Serious side effects related to acepromazine may occur in older dogs. This is also true for dogs with underlying health conditions. So acepromazine is mostly prescribed for young, healthy dogs.
Although other dogs can experience this side effect, dogs with heart disease are particularly at risk for collapsing while being treated with acepromazine. In rare cases, high dosages of acepromazine may cause neurological side effects in dogs. Signs of neurological effects include:
Muscle tremors
Muscle rigidity
Movement disorders
If your dog collapses or shows signs of neurological issues while taking acepromazine, stop giving them the medication. Contact your veterinarian (or an emergency veterinary hospital) immediately.
Does acepromazine interact with any other dog medications?
Acepromazine can interact with a number of other dog medications, including:
Anesthetic agents
Other sedatives
Some types of insecticides
Make sure your veterinarian knows about all the medications your dog is taking, including prescription medications, over-the-counter medications, and supplements. This will help them identify any potential interactions in advance.
What should you do if your dog misses a dose of acepromazine?
Acepromazine is typically given only in specific contexts, like before travel or a veterinary visit. It’s rare for a dog to take acepromazine on an ongoing basis. So it’s unlikely you’ll miss giving your dog a dose of the medication.
If your dog is taking acepromazine on a regular basis and you miss a scheduled dose, give them the missed dose as soon as possible. Then, adjust your dog’s medication schedule so you don’t give two doses too close together. If it’s almost time for your dog’s next dose, skip the missed one. Do not give your dog a double dose of acepromazine.
The bottom line
Acepromazine (PromAce, Aceprotabs) is primarily used as a canine sedative. It’s given to dogs in a variety of circumstances, such as before vet visits, grooming appointments, or travel. While acepromazine does have potential side effects, the risk for side effects is relatively low in young, healthy dogs. Your veterinarian will evaluate your dog’s overall health and consider the reason they need sedation when determining whether to prescribe acepromazine for your dog.
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References
MWI/VetOne. (2021). Acepromazine maleate - acepromazine maleate tablet [package insert]. DailyMed.
Robertson, S. (2015). Hypothermia - more important than you believe. Veterinary Information Network.
ZyVet Animal Health, Inc. (2023). Freedom of information summary: Original abbreviated new animal drug application.
