Acarbose for Cat
Cat · Felis catus · typical adult weight 2.50–7.00 kg
Acarbose is used in cat for Diabetes mellitus (postprandial glucose control). Routes documented in cat: PO. A typical adult cat weighs 2.50–7.00 kg. ExoticRx lists 1 cited dose rule for Acarbose in cat, drawn from published veterinary references. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
Trade names: Precose
Dose ranges
| Route | Dose | Frequency | Duration | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PO | 12.5–25 mg per cat | With each meal | Long-term adjunct to insulin | Diabetes mellitus (postprandial glucose control) | Weak | Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 9th Ed |
Absolute dose ceiling, regardless of body weight: 25 mg total (PO).
Need the exact dose for your patient?
These ranges are per kg. Enter your cat's weight to get the precise dose and draw-up volume — unit and concentration math done for you.
Mechanism of action
Competitively inhibits alpha-glucosidase enzymes in the small intestinal brush border, delaying carbohydrate digestion and reducing postprandial glucose spikes.
Side effects & warnings
Flatulence and diarrhea common. Administer with first bite of each meal. Used as adjunct to insulin therapy in diabetic dogs and cats.
Species-specific contraindications and adverse-reaction reports for cat may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.
Other Endocrine drugs with cat dosing
Acarbose dosing in other species
Why a species-specific page? Acarbose pharmacokinetics differ across species: dose ranges, intervals, and route preferences are not interchangeable. Cross-extrapolation from canine doses is unsafe in cat — the rules above are the citations specific to this species, not generic recommendations.
Sourced from published veterinary references; awaiting credentialed clinical reviewer. See our editorial process. Reference only — not veterinary advice.