ExoticRx · exoticrx.com/drugs/acarbose
US brand names:Precose
Acarbose is dosed at 12.5–25 mg/dog (total dose - NOT mg/kg) PO With each meal (usually q12h) in dogs, per Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th ed (2023) — Plumb's 10th ed, Acarbose monograph, printed p.1. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
Competitively inhibits alpha-glucosidase enzymes in the small intestinal brush border, delaying carbohydrate digestion and reducing postprandial glucose spikes.
Flatulence and diarrhea common. Administer with first bite of each meal. Used as adjunct to insulin therapy in diabetic dogs and cats.
Species references:All Cat (Domestic) drugsAll Dog (Domestic) drugs
Each ExoticRx dose rule is graded by the strength of its primary evidence — see the editorial process.
A dog/cat sample is shown here. Cited dosing for all 2 species — reptiles, birds, pocket pets, livestock, and equine — is free on the per-species pages above. Pro adds the weight-based calculator for every species.
| Species | Route | Dose | Frequency | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dog (Domestic) | PO | 12.5–25 mg/dog (total dose - NOT mg/kg) | With each meal (usually q12h) | Moderate | Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th ed (2023) — Plumb's 10th ed, Acarbose monograph, printed p.1.Compilation only — we have not located an independent source that prints this figure. |
| Cat (Domestic) | PO | 12.5–25 mg per cat | q12h with a meal | Weak | Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th ed (2023) — Plumb's 10th ed printed p.1, Acarbose monograph.Compilation only — we have not located an independent source that prints this figure. |
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View PlansSource citations and evidence levels available on the live page. Reference only — verify against current literature before clinical use.