POM-V Prescription Required Companion Animal

Sedaxylan 20 mg/ml Solution for Injection for Dogs, Cats, Horses and Cattle

Active ingredient: Xylazine

Form

Injection

Species

Cats Cattle Dogs Horses

Manufacturer

Eurovet Animal Health B.V.

VMD MA No.

16849/4001

What it's used for

Chanazine 2% is a sedative with analgesic and muscle relaxant properties for use in cattle, horses, dogs and cats in cases where sedation is required inclu...

Full indications, dosage and side effects ↓

View official SPC (PDF)

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Paying less for Xylazine

1

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2

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The CMA found online pharmacies 50–60% cheaper than practice dispensing on common medicines — typically £200–£300 a year.

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Prescription required

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Clinical information

Sedaxylan 20 mg/ml Solution for Injection for Dogs, Cats, Horses and Cattle — SPC Details

Source: VMD Summary of Product Characteristics (SPC). Last updated 27 Mar 2026.

Chanazine 2% is a sedative with analgesic and muscle relaxant properties for
use in cattle, horses, dogs and cats in cases where sedation is required
including:
1. Handling fractious animals e.g. for transportation.
2. Medical examinations e.g. X-ray examinations, removal of bandages;
examination of the penis and oral cavity.
3. Premedication for minor superficial operations, and local or regional
anaesthesia.
4. Elimination of defecation when examining and treating the vagina, uterus
and hindquarters.

Cats: intramuscular or subcutaneous use.
Horses: intravenous use.
Cattle: intramuscular or intravenous use.
This veterinary medicinal product is intended for single intravenous, intramuscular or
subcutaneous injection dependent upon the species in which it is to be used. The
individual response to xylazine is somewhat varied (as with other sedatives), and
depends partly on the dosage, the age of the patient, temperament of the patient, the
surroundings (stress) and general condition (diseases, fat percentage, etc.).
AN: 01679/2024 & 01734/2024
Doses also depend on the desired degree of sedation. Generally, time to onset of
sedation and recovery will take longer after intramuscular or subcutaneous injection at
the recommended dosages than after intravenous injection. First effects are usually
seen within 2 minutes following intravenous injection and within 5 to 10 minutes after
intramuscular or subcutaneous injection. The maximum effect is seen 10 minutes later.
It is generally seen that an increase in dose will lead to an increase in the level of
sedation, until a maximum level is attained. Increasing the dosage beyond this point will
lead to increase of the duration of the sedation. Recovery in calves may be prolonged
after administration of 1.5 x the recommended dose. If the required depth of sedation is
not achieved it is unlikely that repetition of the dose will prove more effective. In that
case it is advisable to allow complete recovery repeating the procedure with a higher
dose after 24 hours.
To ensure a correct dosage, body weight should be determined as accurately as
possible.
Use a syringe with appropriate gradations.
Dogs: 1.0 - 2.0mg per kg body weight intramuscularly or subcutaneously 0.5 – 1.0ml injection solution/10 kg body weight IM or SC0.7 - 1.0mg per kg body weight intravenously.0.35 – 0.5ml injection solution/10 kg body weight IVCats:0.5 - 1.0mg per kg body weight intramuscularly or subcutaneously.0.125 –
0.25
ml injection solution/ 5 kg body weight IM or SCHorses: 0.5 - 1.0mg per kg body weight intravenously.2.5 – 5.0ml injection solution/100 kg body weight IVCattle:0.05 – 0.20mg per kg body weight intramuscularly or 0.25 – 1.0 ml injection solution/100 kg body weight IM0.03 – 0.10mg per kg body weight intravenously.0.15 – 0.5ml injection solution/100 kg body weight IV
The intravenous injection should be given slowly, especially in horses.

Do not use in the later stages of pregnancy, see section 3.7
AN: 01679/2024 & 01734/2024
Do not use in animals with oesophageal obstruction, and torsion of the stomach, as the
muscle relaxant properties of the veterinary medicinal product appear to accentuate the
effects of the obstruction and because of possible vomiting.
Do not use in animals with renal or hepatic impairment, respiratory dysfunction, cardiac
abnormalities, hypotension and/or shock. Do not use in diabetic animals.
Do not use in calves younger than 1 week of age, foals younger than 2 weeks or in
puppies and kittens younger than 6 weeks. See also section 3.7.

Cats
Very rare
(<1 animal / 10,000 animals
treated, including isolated
reports):
Vomiting
a
, hypersalivation
b
Bradycardia
c
, arrhythmia
d
, hypotension
Respiratory arrest, bradypnoea
Muscle tremor, involuntary movement
e
Hypothermia
f
Undetermined frequency
(cannot be estimated from the
available data)
Hyperthermia
f
Polyuria
Uterine contraction, premature parturition
a
During the onset of sedation, especially when the animals have just been fed.
b
Profound.
c
With AV-block.
d
Reversible.
e
In response to strong auditory stimuli.
f
Thermoregulation can be influenced and consequently body temperature can decrease
or increase dependant on the ambient temperature.
Dogs
Very rare
(<1 animal / 10,000 animals
treated, including isolated
reports):
Vomiting
a
Bradycardia
b
, hypotension
Respiratory arrest, bradypnoea
Muscle tremor
Hypothermia
c
, hyperthermia
c
Undetermined frequency
(cannot be estimated from the
available data)
Hypersalivation
d
Arrhythmia
e
Involuntary movement
f
a
During the onset of sedation, especially when the animals have just been fed.
b
With AV-block.
c
Thermoregulation can be influenced and consequently body temperature can decrease
or increase dependant on the ambient temperature.
d
Profound.
e
Reversible.
f
In response to strong auditory stimuli.
In dogs, adverse effects are generally more pronounced after subcutaneous
administration compared to intramuscular and the effect (efficacy) can be less
predictable.
AN: 01679/2024 & 01734/2024
Cattle
Very rare
(<1 animal / 10,000 animals
treated, including isolated
reports):
Bradycardia, arrhythmia
a
, hypotension
Hypothermia
b
, hyperthermia
b
Respiratory arrest, respiratory depression
Hypersalivation
c
, tongue disorder
d
, regurgitation,
bloated
Undetermined frequency
(cannot be estimated from the
available data)
Penile prolapse
a
Loose stool
e
, rumen atony
Premature parturition, uterine disorder
f
Polyuria
a
Reversible.
b
Thermoregulation can be influenced and consequently body temperature can decrease
or increase dependant on the ambient temperature.
c
Profound.
d
Atony.
e
For 24 hours, in cattle which have received high doses of xylazine.
f
Reduced implantation of the ovum.
In cattle, adverse effects are generally more pronounced after intramuscular
administration compared to intravenous.
Horses
Rare
(1 to 10 animals / 10,000
animals treated):
Abnormal behaviour
a
Very rare
(<1 animal / 10,000 animals
treated, including isolated
reports):
Bradycardia
b
, arrhythmia
c
, hypotension
Hyperthermia
d
Respiratory arrest
Increased sweating
e
Muscle tremor
f
, ataxia
Colic
g, h
, digestive tract hypomotility
h, i
Undetermined frequency
(cannot be estimated from the
available data)
Penile prolapse
c
Hypothermia
d
Involuntary movement
f
Bradypnoea
Frequent urination
a
Violent reactions.
b
Severe.
c
Reversible.
d
Thermoregulation can be influenced and consequently body temperature can decrease
or increase dependant on the ambient temperature.
e
As the effects of the sedation are wearing off.
f
In response to sharp auditory or physical stimuli.
g
Mild.
AN: 01679/2024 & 01734/2024
h
To prevent this, horses should not consume any feed after sedation until the effect has
completely subsided.
i
Temporarily.
Reporting adverse events is important. It allows continuous safety monitoring of a
veterinary medicinal product. Reports should be sent, preferably via a veterinarian, to
either the marketing authorisation holder or its local representative or the national
competent authority via the national reporting system. See the package leaflet for
respective contact details.

Dogs and cats:
Xylazine inhibits the normal intestinal motility. This may make xylazine sedation
undesirable for upper gastro-intestinal radiographs because it promotes filling of the
stomach with gas and makes interpretation less certain.
Brachycephalic dogs with air way disease or malfunction may develop life-threatening
dyspnoea.
Horses:
Xylazine inhibits the normal intestinal motility. Therefore, it should only be used in
horses with colic, that are not responsive to analgesics. The use of xylazine should be
avoided in horses with caecal malfunction.
After treatment of horses with xylazine, the animals are reluctant to walk, so whenever
possible the veterinary medicinal product should be administered in the place where the
treatment/investigation is going to take place.
Caution should be taken in the administration of the veterinary medicinal product to
horses susceptible to laminitis.
Horses with air way disease or malfunction may develop life-threatening dyspnoea.
The dose should be kept as low as possible.
Cattle:
Ruminants are highly susceptible to the effects of xylazine. Normally cattle remain
standing at the lower doses, but some animals may lie down. At the highest
recommended doses most animals will lie down and some animals may relapse in
lateral recumbency.
Reticulo-ruminal motor functions are depressed after injection of xylazine. This may
results in bloat. It is advisable to withhold feed and water for several hours before
administration of xylazine.
In cattle the ability to eructate, cough and swallow is retained but reduced during the
period of sedation, therefore cattle must be closely watched during the recovery period:
the animals should be maintained in sternal recumbency.
In cattle life threatening effects may occur after intramuscular doses above 0.5 mg/kg
body weight (respiratory and circulatory failure). Therefore very precise dosing is
required.
AN: 01679/2024 & 01734/2024

Special precautions for safe use in the target species:
Older and exhausted animals are more sensitive to xylazine, whilst nervous or highly
excitable animals may require a relatively high dose.
In case of dehydration, xylazine should be used cautiously.
Emesis is generally seen within 3-5 minutes after xylazine administration in cats and
dogs. It is advisable to fast dogs and cats for 12 hours prior to surgery; they may have
free access to drinking water.
Do not exceed the recommended dosage.
Following administration animals should be allowed to rest quietly until the full effect has
been reached.
It is advised to cool animals when the ambient temperature is above 25 °C and to keep
animals warm at low temperatures.
Because the analgesic properties of xylazine are insufficient, in painful procedures
xylazine should always be used in combination with a local or general analgesic!
Xylazine produces a certain degree of ataxia; therefore, xylazine must be used
cautiously in procedures involving the distal extremities and in standing castrations in
the horse.
Treated animals should be monitored until the effect has faded totally (e.g. cardiac and
respiratory function, also in the post-operative phase).
For use in young animals, see the age restriction mentioned in 3.3. If the veterinary
medicinal product is intended to be used in young animals below these age-limits, a
benefit-risk assessment should be made by the veterinarian.
Special precautions to be taken by the person administering the veterinary medicinal
product to animals
In the case of accidental oral intake or self-injection, seek medical advice immediately
and show the package leaflet or the label to the physician but DO NOT DRIVE as
sedation and changes in blood pressure may occur.
Irritation, sensitisation, contact dermatitis and systemic effects cannot be excluded after
skin contact.
Avoid skin contact and wear impermeable gloves when handling the veterinary
medicinal product.
Wash the exposed skin immediately after exposure with large amounts of water.
In the case of accidental projection of the veterinary medicinal product into the eyes,
rinse abundantly with fresh water. If irritation persists, seek the advice of a physician.
Remove contaminated clothes.
The veterinary medicinal product should not be administered by pregnant women.
To the physician:
Xylazine is an -adrenoreceptor agonist whose toxicity may cause clinical effects
including sedation, respiratory depression and coma, bradycardia and hypotension and
hyperglycaemia. Ventricular arrhythmias have also been reported. Treatment should be
supportive with appropriate intensive therapy.
AN: 01679/2024 & 01734/2024
Special precautions for the protection of the environment:
Not applicable.

Other CNS depressant agents (barbiturates, narcotics, anaesthetics, tranquillizers, etc.)
may cause additive CNS depression if used with xylazine. Dosages of these agents may
need to be reduced. Xylazine should therefore be used cautiously in combination with
neuroleptics or tranquillizers.
Xylazine should not be used in combination with sympathomimetic drugs such as
epinephrine as ventricular arrhythmia may follow.

This veterinary medicinal product does not require any special storage conditions.

The intravenous injection should be given slowly, especially in horses.
3.10 Symptoms of overdose (and where applicable, emergency procedures and
antidotes)
In the event of an accidental overdose, cardiac arrhythmias, hypotension, and profound
CNS and respiratory depression may occur. Seizures have also been reported after an
overdose. Xylazine can be antagonized by 2-adrenergic antagonists: atipamezole has
been found to be a useful antidote in some cases. The recommended dosage is: 0.2
mg/kg for dogs and cats.
To treat the respiratory depressant effects of xylazine, mechanically respiratory support
with or without respiratory stimulants (e.g. doxapram) can be recommended.
AN: 01679/2024 & 01734/2024
3.11 Special restrictions for use and special conditions for use, including
restrictions on the use of antimicrobial and antiparasitic veterinary medicinal
products in order to limit the risk of development of resistance
Not applicable.
3.12 Withdrawal periods
Horses:
Meat and offal: 1 day.
Cattle:
Meat and offal: 1 day.
Milk: Zero days.
4.

This information is sourced from the official Summary of Product Characteristics (SPC) published by the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD). It is provided for informational purposes only and does not replace professional veterinary advice. Always consult your vet before administering any medication.