The global animal sedatives market size is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 5.20% in the forecast period of 2025-2034. The market for animal sedatives is expected to be aided by the research activities to develop effective animal sedatives.
Zenalpha® sedative was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in dogs during minor surgical procedures. The expanding government initiatives in approving sedatives for veterinary practices are expected to drive the animal sedatives market.
In April 2023, Ceva Santé Animale, the leading animal health company in France, declared the formation of Ceva Bussan Animal Health K.K. with Mitsui & Co. Ltd. to accelerate the expansion of its business strategy in Japan.
In January 2023, Elanco announced that its ZORBIUM™, a buprenorphine transdermal solution for cats, gained the approval of the U.S. FDA to control postoperative pain. The solution offers up to four days of pain control from a single transdermal dose, thereby enabling veterinarians to provide reliable pain relief to their patients.
Prevalence of Animal Diseases, Adoption of Pets, and Availability in Different Forms to be the Key Trends in the Animal Sedatives Market
An animal sedative is a medication used in animals to help them relax and reduce anxiety by slightly making the animal drowsy. They are administered for carrying out diagnostic procedures that are painful or uncomfortable, which prevents the animals from experiencing discomfort.
Adverse Impacts and Limitations of Oral Sedatives to Pose as Challenges for the Animal Sedatives Market
Benzodiazepines are used for seizure control and the medications, include diazepam, alprazolam, chlordiazepoxide, clonazepam, lorazepam, oxazepam, and triazolam. Diazepam is a common veterinary medicine that is used to sedate and reduce anxiety levels in animals, thereby contributing to the animal sedatives market expansion.
Butyrophenones are neuroleptic sedatives with antiemetic effects. Azaperone, a butyrophenone drug, is used in veterinary medicine, particularly in swine for sedation. They are used for calming effects, preventing maternal aggression, transportation, and obstetrical conditions.
Alpha-2 agonists are anaesthetic drugs that induce reliable and dose-dependent sedation. Some alpha-2 agonists play a critical role in reducing the number of anaesthetic drugs required to generate and maintain anaesthesia in animals.
The benefits of the parenteral route of administration include the quicker response of animals and reliable sedation. The growing research to design techniques that can enhance animal comfort during injection, like using a small needle and ointments to lower injection pain, is supporting the market.
The oral route of administration is opted for due to its convenience, cost-effectiveness, and in animals that are trained to cooperate voluntarily while the drug is being administered. They are mainly used by pet owners who look for portability.
Surgical, Diagnosis, and Clinical Research Studies are Major the Applications Sectors for Animal Sedatives
The increasing number of minor surgical procedures by the veterinary teams that do not require complete general anaesthesia, such as orthopaedic radiographs, is leading to the rising demand for animal sedatives.
The rising diagnostic procedures owing to the increasing animal diseases are resulting in the rising administration of animal sedatives to keep the animals calm and reduce their stress during the uncomfortable diagnostic procedures.
Animal sedatives play a critical role in providing immobility and analgesia in experimental animals, as pain or stress can alter the quality of research results. Thus, the growing use of animals in clinical research studies to understand illnesses and develop new treatments for human diseases is contributing to the animal sedatives market expansion.
Additionally, the Asia Pacific region is likely to support the market owing to the rising adoption of pet animals, the prevalence of animal diseases, the developing healthcare infrastructure of animals, and the growing medical research and trials.
News and Developments in the Market
In April 2023, Dechra announced that it is the marketing authorisation (MA) holder of Zenalpha® in the United States. The drug was developed by Vetcare Oy in Finland, and Dechra is the exclusive licensing partner.Zenalpha® sedative was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in dogs during minor surgical procedures. The expanding government initiatives in approving sedatives for veterinary practices are expected to drive the animal sedatives market.
In April 2023, Ceva Santé Animale, the leading animal health company in France, declared the formation of Ceva Bussan Animal Health K.K. with Mitsui & Co. Ltd. to accelerate the expansion of its business strategy in Japan.
In January 2023, Elanco announced that its ZORBIUM™, a buprenorphine transdermal solution for cats, gained the approval of the U.S. FDA to control postoperative pain. The solution offers up to four days of pain control from a single transdermal dose, thereby enabling veterinarians to provide reliable pain relief to their patients.
Prevalence of Animal Diseases, Adoption of Pets, and Availability in Different Forms to be the Key Trends in the Animal Sedatives Market
An animal sedative is a medication used in animals to help them relax and reduce anxiety by slightly making the animal drowsy. They are administered for carrying out diagnostic procedures that are painful or uncomfortable, which prevents the animals from experiencing discomfort.
- The rising adoption of pets for companionship and the increasing anxiety issues in these pets is leading to the utilisation of sedatives to calm the animals.
- The increasing incidences of animal diseases worldwide and the use of sedatives in animals during veterinary procedures that are painful or distressful are contributing to the animal sedatives market expansion.
- The animal sedatives are cheap, easy to administer, and are available in the form of liquid or a pill, which offers a wide choice to the veterinary team.
- The investments in research activities to develop effective sedatives are expected to support the market over the forecast period.
Rising Incidence of Animal Diseases
The sedatives are being increasingly used during diagnostic procedures, such as X-rays, when an animal is required to be still for a period of time. The prevalence of zoonotic diseases worldwide is aiding the animal sedative market growth.The Increasing Use of Animals in Experimental Clinical Studies for Scientific Purposes
The animal sedatives are used in laboratories to ensure that distress in research animals is limited during the experimentation. Animal sedatives are critical in preventing and alleviating pain during potentially painful procedures.Growing Adoption of Pets
The animal sedatives are utilised by pet owners to calm the animals and improve the owner's quality of life. The rising adoption of pets for companionship and the increasing anxiety issues in these pets is leading to market expansion.Emerging Need to Reduce Stress on the Veterinary Team
The sedatives help in reducing the stress on the veterinary team by making the surgical procedures faster and quieter. Also, it helps in protecting the veterinary team from bites and scratches of a panicked animal.Adverse Impacts and Limitations of Oral Sedatives to Pose as Challenges for the Animal Sedatives Market
Adverse Impacts of Animal Sedatives
The animal sedatives at times cause side effects, such as lowered blood pressure and cardiovascular collapse, among others. Some animal sedatives can also affect the animals' ability to regulate their body temperature and cause accidents likely.Awareness about the Limitations of Oral Sedatives
There is an expanding awareness of the limitations of administering acepromazine orally, such as the inconsistent duration of the sedative effect. The other disadvantages of oral dosage include reduced efficacy, lack of absorption of substances due to chemical polarity, and inability to use this route in unconscious animals.Animal Sedatives Market Segmentation
Global Animal Sedatives Market Report and Forecast 2025-2034 offers a detailed analysis of the market based on the following segments:Market Breakup by Drug Class
- Benzodiazepines
- Butyrophenones
- Phenothiazines
- Alpha-2 adrenergic Receptor Agonists
- Others
Market Breakup by Route of Administration
- Parenteral
- Oral
Market Breakup by Application
- Diagnosis
- Surgical
- Clinical Research Studies
- Others
Market Breakup by Region
- North America
- Europe
- Asia Pacific
- Latin America
- Middle East and Africa
Rising Application of Phenothiazines to Support the Animal Sedatives Market Growth
The administration of adequate doses of phenothiazines in animals provides sedation, ataxia, and the abolition of conditioned reflexes, which is leading to its growing utilisation in veterinary clinics. The wide availability of phenothiazines, such as acepromazine, chlorpromazine, and promazine in veterinary medicine is also benefitting the market development.Benzodiazepines are used for seizure control and the medications, include diazepam, alprazolam, chlordiazepoxide, clonazepam, lorazepam, oxazepam, and triazolam. Diazepam is a common veterinary medicine that is used to sedate and reduce anxiety levels in animals, thereby contributing to the animal sedatives market expansion.
Butyrophenones are neuroleptic sedatives with antiemetic effects. Azaperone, a butyrophenone drug, is used in veterinary medicine, particularly in swine for sedation. They are used for calming effects, preventing maternal aggression, transportation, and obstetrical conditions.
Alpha-2 agonists are anaesthetic drugs that induce reliable and dose-dependent sedation. Some alpha-2 agonists play a critical role in reducing the number of anaesthetic drugs required to generate and maintain anaesthesia in animals.
Parenteral and Oral are the Different Routes of Administration in the Market
The parenteral route is the most efficient means of administering sedation to animals, thus aiding the animal sedatives market growth. There are different methods of the parenteral route of administration, such as intramuscular injections, intraperitoneal delivery, and epidural administration, among others.The benefits of the parenteral route of administration include the quicker response of animals and reliable sedation. The growing research to design techniques that can enhance animal comfort during injection, like using a small needle and ointments to lower injection pain, is supporting the market.
The oral route of administration is opted for due to its convenience, cost-effectiveness, and in animals that are trained to cooperate voluntarily while the drug is being administered. They are mainly used by pet owners who look for portability.
Surgical, Diagnosis, and Clinical Research Studies are Major the Applications Sectors for Animal Sedatives
The increasing number of minor surgical procedures by the veterinary teams that do not require complete general anaesthesia, such as orthopaedic radiographs, is leading to the rising demand for animal sedatives.
The rising diagnostic procedures owing to the increasing animal diseases are resulting in the rising administration of animal sedatives to keep the animals calm and reduce their stress during the uncomfortable diagnostic procedures.
Animal sedatives play a critical role in providing immobility and analgesia in experimental animals, as pain or stress can alter the quality of research results. Thus, the growing use of animals in clinical research studies to understand illnesses and develop new treatments for human diseases is contributing to the animal sedatives market expansion.
Market Share by Region
The increasing expenditure on experimental clinical studies using animals for scientific purposes in the North American region is resulting in the animal sedatives market growth. The government initiatives towards approving animal sedatives for safe use in animals are likely to aid the market. For instance, in March 2023, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Zenalpha to keep dogs sedated and comfortable while undergoing medical procedures.Additionally, the Asia Pacific region is likely to support the market owing to the rising adoption of pet animals, the prevalence of animal diseases, the developing healthcare infrastructure of animals, and the growing medical research and trials.
Competitive Landscape of Animal Sedatives Market
The report offers a detailed analysis of the following key players in the market, covering their competitive landscape and latest developments like mergers, acquisitions, investments and expansion plans.Elanco UK AH Limited
Elanco UK AH Limited is a leader in animal health, dedicated to delivering innovative products and services to prevent and treat animal diseases. The company aims to create value for farmers, veterinarians, pet owners, stakeholders, and society.Ceva Animal Health Pty Ltd
Ceva Animal Health Pty Ltd is a veterinary health company based in New South Wales and has a strong presence across Australia and New Zealand. It supplies medicines for companion animals and other animals. The company aims to protect the health of animals and the environment, thereby preventing zoonoses.Merck & Co., Inc.
Merck & Co., Inc. is a United States-based pharmaceutical company that uses science to improve lives and combat the world’s greatest health threats.Dechra Pharmaceuticals PLC
Dechra Pharmaceuticals PLC is a company based in England that deals with the manufacturing of high-quality products exclusively for veterinarians. The company is listed on the London Stock Exchange.Zoetis Inc.
Zoetis Inc. is a leading animal health company which uses cutting-edge technologies to create advancements in animal health vaccines and other technologies. The company intends to nurture the world by caring for companion animals and livestock.Table of Contents
1 Executive Summary
2 Market Overview and Stakeholder Insights
3 Economic Summary
4 Country Risk Profiles
5 Global Animal Sedatives Market Analysis
6 North America Animal Sedatives Market Analysis
7 Europe Animal Sedatives Market Analysis
8 Asia Pacific Animal Sedatives Market Analysis
9 Latin America Animal Sedatives Market Analysis
10 Middle East and Africa Animal Sedatives Market Analysis
11 Market Dynamics
13 Competitive Landscape
Companies Mentioned
- Elanco UK AH Limited
- Ceva Animal Health Pty Ltd
- Merck & Co., Inc.
- Dechra Pharmaceuticals PLC
- Zoetis Inc.
Table Information
| Report Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| No. of Pages | 179 |
| Published | July 2025 |
| Regions Covered | Global |
| No. of Companies Mentioned | 5 |
