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, held copy; the original seed cited the 9th, which was never consulted) — corpus p.28 (plumb), located 2026-08-05 by exact figure+drug match (unique, drug within 219 chars). — located 2026-08-05 in Plumb's 10th ed, Acarbose monograph, printed p.1; the earlier note claiming no held source contained this figure was wrong and has been removed. — SOURCE EDITION: Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook — ISBN 9781394172207, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9781394172207. 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, held copy; the original seed cited the 9th, which was never consulted) — corpus p.28 (plumb), located 2026-08-05 by exact figure+drug match (unique, drug within 219 chars). — located 2026-08-05 in Plumb's 10th ed, Acarbose monograph, printed p.1; the earlier note claiming no held source contained this figure was wrong and has been removed. — SOURCE EDITION: Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook — ISBN 9781394172207, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9781394172207 |
| Cat (Domestic) | PO | 12.5–25 mg per cat | q12h with a meal | Weak | Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th ed (2023, held copy; the original seed cited the 9th, which was never consulted) — Plumb's 10th ed (held) printed p.1, Acarbose monograph; page located 2026-08-05 from the book's own running heads, verified to name the drug in its body text. — SOURCE EDITION: Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook — ISBN 9781394172207, |
Upgrade to Pro or Student to unlock the full dose ranges and frequency for every species. The drug's mechanism, warnings, indications, and cited sources are free to read.
View PlansSource citations and evidence levels available on the live page. Reference only — verify against current literature before clinical use.