Dog · Canis lupus familiaris · typical adult weight 2.00–80.00 kg
Apomorphine is dosed at 0.25 mg/kg Conjunctival Single application; flush eye once vomiting begins in dogs, per Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 9th Ed. Apomorphine is used in dogs for Emesis induction (conjunctival route), Emesis induction (in-clinic). Routes documented in dogs: Conjunctival, IV. A typical adult dog weighs 2.00–80.00 kg. ExoticRx lists 2 cited dose rules for Apomorphine in dogs, drawn from published veterinary references. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
US trade names: Apoquel Emetic
| Route | Dose | Frequency | Duration | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conjunctival | 0.25 mg/kgmax 6 mg total | Single application; flush eye once vomiting begins | Single use; rinse eye thoroughly with saline after emesis induced | Emesis induction (conjunctival route) | Strong | Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 9th Ed |
| IV | 0.03–0.04 mg/kg | Single IV dose | Single dose; onset within 2-5 minutes IV; do NOT repeat if ineffective | Emesis induction (in-clinic) | Strong | Fischer C, Drobatz KJ, Thawley VJ. Evaluation of subcutaneous versus intravenous administration of apomorphine for induction of emesis in dogs. J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2021;259(3):283-287. / 1. Khan SA, McLean MK, Slater M, Hansen S, Zawistowski S. Effectiveness and adverse effects of the use of apomorphine and 3% hydrogen peroxide solution to induce emesis in dogs. J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2012;241(9):1179-1184. doi:10.2460/javma.259.3.283 — Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.121 (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.
Dopamine D2 receptor agonist in the chemoreceptor trigger zone (CRTZ), directly stimulating the vomiting center. Most reliable emetic for dogs.
Dogs ONLY — cats lack appropriate CRTZ dopamine receptors (use dexmedetomidine instead). Respiratory depression at high doses. Naloxone can reverse. Do NOT repeat if first dose fails.
Species-specific contraindications and adverse-reaction reports for dogs may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.
Apomorphine dose ranges in dogs, with cited source references: Conjunctival 0.25 mg/kg Single application; flush eye once vomiting begins; IV 0.03–0.04 mg/kg Single IV dose. Reference ranges from cited sources — verify against current literature before clinical use.
Documented routes for Apomorphine in dogs: Conjunctival, IV.
Cited course lengths for Apomorphine in dogs include: Single use; rinse eye thoroughly with saline after emesis induced; Single dose; onset within 2-5 minutes IV; do NOT repeat if ineffective. Duration depends on the indication — match it to the specific dose rule in the table above.
Apomorphine is indicated in dogs for: Emesis induction (conjunctival route), Emesis induction (in-clinic).
These are general warnings for Apomorphine across species; consult the dog dosing table above for species-specific guidance. Dogs ONLY — cats lack appropriate CRTZ dopamine receptors (use dexmedetomidine instead). Respiratory depression at high doses. Naloxone can reverse. Do NOT repeat if first dose fails.
Why a species-specific page? Apomorphine 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.