Dog · Canis lupus familiaris · typical adult weight 2.00–80.00 kg
Amantadine is dosed at 3–5 mg/kg PO q24h in dogs, per Madden M, Gurney M, Bright S. Amantadine, an N-Methyl-D-Aspartate antagonist, for treatment of chronic neuropathic pain in a dog. Veterinary Anaesthesia and Analgesia. 2014;41:440-441. doi:10.1111/vaa.12141; Lascelles BDX, Gaynor JS, Smith ES, et al. Amantadine in a multimodal analgesic regimen for alleviation of refractory osteoarthritis pain in dogs. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine. 2008;22:53-59. doi:10.1111/j.1939-1676.2007.0014.x — Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.74 (2026-08-01).. Amantadine is used in dogs for Chronic pain (NMDA antagonist adjunct). Routes documented in dogs: PO. A typical adult dog weighs 2.00–80.00 kg. ExoticRx lists 1 cited dose rule for Amantadine in dogs, drawn from published veterinary references. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
US trade names: Symmetrel
| Route | Dose | Frequency | Duration | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PO | 3–5 mg/kg | q24h | Long-term | Chronic pain (NMDA antagonist adjunct) | Moderate | Madden M, Gurney M, Bright S. Amantadine, an N-Methyl-D-Aspartate antagonist, for treatment of chronic neuropathic pain in a dog. Veterinary Anaesthesia and Analgesia. 2014;41:440-441. doi:10.1111/vaa.12141; Lascelles BDX, Gaynor JS, Smith ES, et al. Amantadine in a multimodal analgesic regimen for alleviation of refractory osteoarthritis pain in dogs. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine. 2008;22:53-59. doi:10.1111/j.1939-1676.2007.0014.x — Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.74 (2026-08-01). |
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These ranges are per kg. Enter your dog's weight to get the precise dose and draw-up volume — unit and concentration math done for you.
NMDA receptor antagonist that reduces central sensitization (wind-up pain). Also has dopaminergic and antiviral activity. Used for chronic/neuropathic pain.
Adjunctive analgesic for chronic pain (combine with NSAIDs or gabapentin). CNS excitation at high doses. Renal elimination — adjust in renal disease. GI upset.
Species-specific contraindications and adverse-reaction reports for dogs may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.
Amantadine dose range in dogs, with cited source references: PO 3–5 mg/kg q24h. Reference ranges from cited sources — verify against current literature before clinical use.
Documented routes for Amantadine in dogs: PO.
Cited course lengths for Amantadine in dogs include: Long-term. Duration depends on the indication — match it to the specific dose rule in the table above.
Amantadine is indicated in dogs for: Chronic pain (NMDA antagonist adjunct).
These are general warnings for Amantadine across species; consult the dog dosing table above for species-specific guidance. Adjunctive analgesic for chronic pain (combine with NSAIDs or gabapentin). CNS excitation at high doses. Renal elimination — adjust in renal disease. GI upset.
Why a species-specific page? Amantadine pharmacokinetics differ across species: dose ranges, intervals, and route preferences are not interchangeable. Cross-extrapolation from canine doses is unsafe in dogs — 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.