Atravet® for Dogs, Cats, and Horses: Uses, Dosing, and Safety

What Atravet® Is and How It Works

Atravet® (acepromazine maleate) is a phenothiazine tranquilizer used in veterinary medicine. It helps calm dogs, cats, and horses before travel, grooming, veterinary visits, minor procedures, and pre‑anesthetic protocols. The medicine reduces agitation, motion sickness, and anxiety by depressing certain brain pathways. Many pet owners compare options like Atravet without insurance when planning care and budgets.

CanadianInsulin is a prescription referral service. Prescriptions are verified with your clinic, and orders are filled by licensed Canadian pharmacies. We work with vetted partner pharmacies to supply authentic brand medications with a broad selection and value‑focused pricing.

Acepromazine blocks dopamine receptors in the central nervous system. This produces sedation and a reduction in spontaneous activity. It may also lessen nausea from motion sickness. Atravet is commonly available as scored tablets for at‑home use. Injectable acepromazine is used by veterinarians in clinic settings.

Species use varies. In dogs and cats, doses are individualized by weight, age, breed sensitivity, and the reason for use. In horses, it is used for mild to moderate sedation and to ease handling, but requires careful dosing due to cardiovascular effects and specific stallion risks.

Dosage and Usage

• Follow the prescribing veterinarian’s directions for species, strength, and timing.
• Tablets are often given 45 to 60 minutes before the stressful event or travel.
• Use the lowest effective dose. Sensitivity varies by breed, age, and health status.
• Do not combine with other sedatives unless the veterinarian has directed a plan.
• Use scored tablets for splitting only if instructed and feasible for the dose.
• If a scheduled dose is missed and the next dose is near, skip the missed dose.
• Do not double doses. Seek veterinary advice if repeated doses seem needed.
• Injectable forms are typically administered by a veterinarian in a clinical setting.
• For motion sickness, some veterinarians time dosing earlier to cover travel duration.
• Observe the animal after dosing and provide a quiet environment until effects are clear.

• Store tablets at 15–25°C (59–77°F) in a dry place away from light and moisture.
• Keep in the original, labeled container and out of reach of children and animals.
• Do not use if tablets are discolored, crumbling, or past the printed expiry date.
• For travel, keep the medication in your carry‑on. Do not leave it in a hot car.
• Bring the prescription label and a copy of dosing directions when you travel.
• If barn or trailer storage is needed, keep the bottle dry and away from heat and sun.

Benefits and Savings

Atravet promotes calm behavior during grooming, nail trims, and vet visits. It helps reduce motion sickness on car trips. It can improve safety and handling for animals that become fearful during necessary care. In pre‑anesthetic plans, it may reduce the dose of other agents under veterinary supervision.

Tablet dosing is convenient for home use. The scored designs may help with tailored doses when appropriate. Many customers save 60–80% vs typical U.S. prices. Value‑focused pricing can ease costs for intermittent use or event‑based dosing, including those paying for Atravet without insurance.

See our promotions page for current offers, including any Atravet for cats coupon if available.

Side Effects and Safety

• Expected effects: sedation, reduced activity, and drowsiness.
• Possible effects: low blood pressure, slow heart rate, ataxia, and drooling.
• Gastrointestinal changes: decreased appetite or occasional vomiting.
• Behavioral changes: excitation or disinhibition in rare cases.
• Thermoregulation changes: sensitivity to heat or cold due to vasodilation.
• Cats and dogs: third‑eyelid prolapse can be transient and benign.
• Horses: risk of penile prolapse; avoid use in breeding stallions unless directed.

Serious but uncommon reactions include profound hypotension, allergic reactions, severe hypothermia, or paradoxical agitation. Use caution in animals with cardiovascular disease, liver disease, dehydration, shock, or seizure history. Boxers and some sighthound breeds may be more sensitive. Concomitant use with CNS depressants, anesthetics, organophosphates, or antihypertensives requires veterinary oversight. When used with insulin or sulfonylureas in diabetic pets, monitor for additive sedation that could mask hypoglycemia awareness.

Onset Time

Onset after oral dosing is usually 30 to 60 minutes, with peak sedation around 1 to 3 hours. Effects in dogs and cats often last 6 to 8 hours, and can be longer at higher doses. In horses, sedation can appear within 15 to 45 minutes after injection and typically lasts 1 to 4 hours depending on dose and route. Individual response varies.

Compare With Alternatives

Some animals respond better to other options or combinations. Trazodone is commonly used in dogs for situational anxiety and post‑operative rest. It may cause less cardiovascular change but has its own interactions. Gabapentin can help with situational anxiety and handling in cats and dogs and is often used the night before and the day of stressful events.

Generic acepromazine tablets are a direct alternative with the same active ingredient. Dosing and effects are comparable under veterinary guidance. In clinic settings, veterinarians may combine acepromazine with opioids or alpha‑2 agonists for procedures. The choice depends on species, temperament, health status, and the required depth of sedation.

Combination Therapy

• Trazodone or gabapentin for situational anxiety, spaced appropriately from acepromazine.
• Opioid analgesics in clinic protocols to enhance sedation and comfort.
• Alpha‑2 agonists in veterinary settings when deeper sedation is required.
• Antiemetics for motion sickness when nausea persists.
• Adjust doses of background sedatives or anxiolytics to reduce additive CNS depression.
• Monitor diabetic pets closely if concurrent sedation could mask hypoglycemia signs.

Patient Suitability and Cost‑Saving Tips

Atravet may suit healthy adult dogs, cats, and horses that need predictable, mild to moderate sedation for travel, grooming, or vet procedures. It may not suit animals with severe heart disease, shock, significant liver dysfunction, or a seizure disorder. In horses, breeding stallions are at risk of paraphimosis and generally should avoid use unless directed by a veterinarian.

Older animals, brachycephalic breeds, and those with low blood pressure may require extra caution and conservative dosing. Always share a complete medication list with the prescribing clinic. Report unexpected reactions, prolonged sedation, or inadequate response so the plan can be adjusted.

To reduce costs, consider multi‑month quantities when dosing is stable and infrequent. Compare strengths; larger tablets that can be split as directed may lower the per‑dose cost. Bundle other approved medications in the same shipment when appropriate. Set a simple reminder for reorders ahead of known travel or grooming dates. Prompt, express, cold‑chain shipping helps protect quality during transit.

Authoritative Sources

Health Canada Drug Product Database: acepromazine maleate listings

FDA Animal Drugs Database (Green Book): search acepromazine maleate

Merck Veterinary Manual: phenothiazine tranquilizers (acepromazine)

Order Atravet from CanadianInsulin: add to cart, upload your prescription, and we ship with prompt, express, cold‑chain handling.

This page is educational and does not replace professional veterinary advice. Discuss diagnosis, dosing, and monitoring with the prescribing veterinarian.