Depending on species and circumstances this product may be administered via several routes.
The applicable dose depends on animal species and route of administration. Therefore, the instructions described in the dosage scheme should be carefully followed:
Horses - The product should be injected as quickly as possible. Premedication before administration is mandatory.
Route (Horses) | ml of the product by kg bw | Dose expressed as mg pentobarbital sodium |
Intravenous (rapid injection) | 1.0 ml per 5 kg | 100 mg/kg |
Cattle - The product should be injected as quickly as possible. In cattle, in particular at lower dosages, it is possible to observe gasping in isolated cases. Premedication before administration is mandatory.
Route (Cattle) | ml of the product by kg bw | Dose expressed as mg pentobarbital sodium |
Intravenous (rapid injection) | 1 - 2 ml per 10 kg | 50mg to 100 mg/kg |
Pigs - The product should be injected as quickly as possible. The route of administration depends on the age and weight of the individual and can be intravenous (vena cava cranialis or ear vein) or intracardiac. The injection duration can - depending on the age and body weight of the pig - vary from 1 second (piglets) and 38 seconds (in boars> 100 kg body weight).
Route (Pigs) | ml of the product by kg bw | Dose expressed as mg pentobarbital sodium |
Intravenous (vena cava carnialis) by rapid injection | 0.16 ml/kg up to 30 kg 0.08 ml/kg over 30 kg | 80 mg/kg up to 30 kg 40 mg/kg over 30 kg |
Intravenous (ear vein) by rapid injection after dilution with isotonic (0.9%) NaCl solution at a ration of 1:1 | 0.16 ml/kg up to 30 kg 0.08 ml/kg over 30 kg | 80 mg/kg up to 30 kg 40 mg/kg over 30 kg |
Intracardiac (in unconscious or deeply sedated/anaesthetised patients) | 0.16 ml/kg up to 30 kg 0.08 ml/kg over 30 kg | 80 mg/kg up to 30 kg 40 mg/kg over 30 kg |
Dogs & Cats
Route (Dogs & Cats) | ml of the product by kg bw | Dose expressed as mg pentobarbtial sodium |
Intravenous; slow continuous injection until unconscious then rapid injection of remaining quantity | 1.0 ml per 4 kg Dog 1.0 ml per 3 kg Cat | 125 mg/kg Dog 166 mg/kg Cat |
Intracardiac & intraperitoneal: in unconscious or deeply sedated/anaesthetised patients | 1.0ml per 3 kg Dog 1.0ml per 2 kg Cat | 166 mg/kg Dog 250 mg/kg Cat |
Minks, polecats
Route (Minks, polecats) | ml of the product by kg bw | Dose expressed as mg pentobarbital sodium |
Intravenous Intracardiac (in unconscious or deeply sedated/anaesthetised patients) | 1.0 ml per animal | 500 mg per animal |
Hares, rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, rats, mice
Route (Hares, rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, rats, mice) | ml of the product per kg bw | Dose expressed as mg pentobarbital sodium |
Intravenous Intracardiac (in unconscious or deeply sedated/anaesthetised patients) | 1.0 ml per 1.5 kg | 333 kg |
Intraperitoneal (in unconscious or deeply sedated/anaesthetised patients) | 1.0 ml per 1 kg | 500 mg/kg |
Chickens, pigeons, ornamental birds - The method of choice in birds is intravenous injection. If venepuncture cannot be performed (due to e.g. haematoma, collapse of cardiovascular system) intrapulmonary injection could be an option. In birds, intrapulmonary injection is performed by inserting the cannula in a dorso-ventral direction on the left or right side of the backbone into the lung (3rd or 4th intercostal segment between backbone and scapula).
Route (Chickens, pigeons, ornamental birds) | ml of the product per kg bw | Dose expressed as mg pentobarbital sodium |
Intravenous Intracardiac (in unconscious or deeply sedated/anaesthetised patients) | 1.0 ml per 1 kg | 500 mg/kg |
Small snakes, tortoises, lizards, frogs
Route (small snakes, tortoises, lizards, frogs) | ml of the product per kg bw | Dose expressed as mg pentobarbital sodium |
Depending on the size, inject into the body cavity near the heart; death is expected after about 5 to 10 minutes in unconscious or deeply sedated/anaesthetised patients | 0.4 - 0.8 ml per animal | 200 to 400 mg per animal |
Intravenous route
The intravenous route of administration should be the route of choice and adequate sedation should be administered if deemed necessary by the attending veterinarian. For horses and cattle premedication is mandatory.
Intracardiac route
Where intravenous administration is difficult, and only following deep sedation or anaesthesia, the product may be administered via the intracardiac route in all target species except avian species.
Intraperitoneal route
Alternatively, for small animals only, administration via the intraperitoneal route could be used, but only following appropriate sedation.
Intrapulmonary route
Intrapulmonary administration must only be used as a last resort and only if the animal is heavily sedated, unconscious or anaesthetised and shows no response to noxious stimuli. This route of administration may only be used in chickens, pigeons, ornamental birds, snakes, tortoises, lizards and frogs.
Recommendations for dilution of product
Pigs (in case of administration in ear vein) and small animals (dogs, cats, mink, polecats, hares, rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, rats, mice, chickens, pigeons, ornamental birds): For ease of administration the product should be diluted with isotonic (0.9%) sodium chloride solution in a mixing ration of 1:1 prior to administration with needles thinner than 20G.