Acepromazine Side Effects in Dogs

Acepromazine is a sedative often prescribed by veterinarians for pets during travel or other stressful situations. As with any medication, acepromazine may cause various side effects, ranging from mild to severe. It is highly advisable to carefully monitor dogs while they are under the effect of this medication in order to swiftly recognize signs of trouble.

  1. Function

    • Acepromazine, also known as Promace, is available only through a veterinarian's prescription. This sedative has ultimately no effect on pain, bit it appears to alleviate fear, anxiety and motion sickness. It is also sometimes used prior to surgery or to relax pets before putting them to sleep.

    Side Effects

    • Acepromazine in mild cases may cause lethargy and unsteadiness in some pets, which may last for several hours. In more severe cases, it may significantly lower a dog's blood pressure and body temperature, increase heartbeats and worsen seizure activity in epileptic dogs.

    Warning

    • As with any medication, dogs may develop allergic reactions to acepromazine, and the drug can also interact with other medications. The medication should not be given to dehydrated or debilitated dogs, very young, pregnant or old dogs, those with liver or heart disorders, and epileptic dogs.

    Considerations

    • Acepromazine should not be administered to Boxers or other brachycephalic dogs (flat-faced, short-nosed dogs) because it may potentially cause serious arrhythmias and possibly severe hypotension (low blood pressure), with risks of collapse, respiratory arrest and a slow heart rate. Giant dog breeds and Greyhounds my be sensitive to acepromazine as well, while Terriers may require higher doses.

    Misconceptions

    • While acepromazine is thought to cause sedation at all times, there are certain cases where dogs become hyperactive or even aggressive instead. This is known as a ''paradoxical reaction."

    Expert Insight

    • Veterinarians avoid prescribing the drug for air travel because it affects a dog's ability to regulate body temperature during temperature extremes, and also because it makes a dog too drowsy to effectively balance itself in case of turbulence.