ExoticRx · exoticrx.com/drugs/ammonium-chloride
Ammonium Chloride is dosed at 20 mg/kg PO q12h in cats, per Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th ed (2023) — Plumb's 10th ed printed p.65, Ammonium Chloride monograph spanning p.65-66. — Plumb's 10th ed printed p.66, Ammonium Chloride monograph. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
Metabolized by liver releasing HCl and producing systemic acidification. Excreted renally as acidifying ammonium ion.
Used for metabolic alkalosis and struvite urolith prevention/dissolution. Contraindicated in hepatic insufficiency (ammonia cannot be metabolized). Monitor blood pH and electrolytes.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cat (Domestic) | PO | 20 mg/kg | q12h | Moderate | Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th ed (2023) — Plumb's 10th ed printed p.65, Ammonium Chloride monograph spanning p.65-66. — Plumb's 10th ed printed p.66, Ammonium Chloride monograph.Compilation only — we have not located an independent source that prints this figure. |
| Dog (Domestic) | PO | 100 mg/kg | q12h | Weak | Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th ed (2023), Ammonium Chloride, printed p.66; corroborated by Papich, Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 5th Ed, p.37: 'Dogs: 100 mg/kg q12h PO' — EDITION UNVERIFIABLE 2026-08-07: this citation names Papich 5th ed, which is NOT held. Its page locator does not resolve to a page naming this drug in the 4th ed (2016), so the reference cannot be confirmed against any copy available here. Treat the page number as unchecked and consult the 5th edition directly.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.