Dog · Canis lupus familiaris · typical adult weight 2.00–80.00 kg
Atropine is dosed at 0.02–0.04 mg/kg IM once in dogs, per Plumb's 10th ed printed p.114, Atropine monograph spanning p.112-115. Atropine is used in dogs for Pre-anesthetic, reduce secretions, Pre-anesthetic, Organophosphate/carbamate toxicity, Bradycardia, pre-anesthetic. Routes documented in dogs: IM, IM or IV, IV. A typical adult dog weighs 2.00–80.00 kg. ExoticRx lists 5 cited dose rules for Atropine in dogs, drawn from published veterinary references. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
| Route | Dose | Frequency | Duration | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IM | 0.02–0.04 mg/kg | once | Single pre-anesthetic dose | Pre-anesthetic, reduce secretions | Strong | Plumb's 10th ed printed p.114, Atropine monograph spanning p.112-115.Compilation only — we have not located an independent source that prints this figure. |
| IM or IV | 0.02–0.04 mg/kg | once (preanesthetic) | Single dose | Pre-anesthetic | Weak | Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th ed (2023), p.114, Atropine, Dosages, DOGS/CATS, 'Preanesthetic adjuvant' — Plumb's 10th ed printed p.114, Atropine monograph.Compilation only — we have not located an independent source that prints this figure. |
| IV | 0.2–0.5 mg/kg | As needed, typically q3-4h | Until atropinization achieved | Organophosphate/carbamate toxicity | Strong | Papich MG. Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th ed (2016), Atropine monograph, Dogs, printed p.62: "For organophosphate and carbamate toxicosis: 0.2-0.5 mg/kg as needed, IV, IM, or SQ." Plumb's 10th ed (p.112-115) prints 0.2 mg/kg for organophosphate toxicity, given 1/4 IV and the rest IM/SC. — PROVENANCE CORRECTED 2026-11-02: this rule previously cited Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th ed, Atropine monograph, as the only source. That source does not print this figure for this species and route; the source above does (read on the page 2026-11-02).Compilation only — we have not located an independent source that prints this figure. |
| IV | 0.02–0.04 mg/kg | q15-20min | As needed | Bradycardia, pre-anesthetic | Strong | Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th ed (2023) — Plumb's 10th ed printed p.114, Atropine monograph spanning p.112-115.Compilation only — we have not located an independent source that prints this figure. |
| IV | 0.04 mg/kg | may repeat every other 2-minute BLS cycle (~q4min) | During CPR for asystole/PEA | CPR protocol | Moderate | Fletcher DJ, Boller M, Brainard BM, et al. RECOVER evidence and knowledge gap analysis on veterinary CPR. Part 7: Clinical guidelines. J Vet Emerg Crit Care. 2012;22. doi:10.1111/j.1476-4431.2012.00751.x — Plumb's 10th ed printed p.114, Atropine monograph spanning p.112-115. |
Every held source for this drug and species, as printed. Where they differ, both are shown — the choice is yours, not ours.
The sources disagree for this combination. The ranges below do not overlap on a comparable route. This is not an error in one of them — published veterinary references differ, and reconciling them for a particular patient is a clinical judgement.
| Dose (mg/kg) | Route | Source | As printed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.1–0.2 | IV | BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, 10th ed — Part A (Canine and Feline)p.38 | se i.v., 3⁄4 i.m., s.c.) to effect; repeat as necessary; or 0.1-0.2 mg/kg (% i.v., % i.m.) then i.m. q6h. |
| 0.01–0.03 | IV | BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, 10th ed — Part A (Canine and Feline)p.38 | 0.01-0.03 mg/kg i.v. Low doses may exacerbate bradycardia; repetition of the dose will usually p |
| 0.03–0.04 | IM | BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, 10th ed — Part A (Canine and Feline)p.38 | of the dose will usually promote an increase in heart rate. 0.03-0.04 mg/kg i.m. can be given to prevent development of bradycardia during administration of |
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Competitive muscarinic receptor antagonist. Increases heart rate (vagolytic), reduces secretions, and mydriasis.
Tachycardia, ileus, urinary retention. Increases myocardial oxygen demand. Rabbits have high atropinase activity — may need higher/more frequent doses or use glycopyrrolate instead.
Species-specific contraindications and adverse-reaction reports for dogs may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.
Atropine dose ranges in dogs, with cited source references: IM 0.02–0.04 mg/kg once; IM or IV 0.02–0.04 mg/kg once (preanesthetic); IV 0.2–0.5 mg/kg As needed, typically q3-4h; IV 0.02–0.04 mg/kg q15-20min. Reference ranges from cited sources — verify against current literature before clinical use.
Documented routes for Atropine in dogs: IM, IM or IV, IV.
Cited course lengths for Atropine in dogs include: Single pre-anesthetic dose; Single dose; Until atropinization achieved; As needed. Duration depends on the indication — match it to the specific dose rule in the table above.
Atropine is indicated in dogs for: Pre-anesthetic, reduce secretions, Pre-anesthetic, Organophosphate/carbamate toxicity, Bradycardia, pre-anesthetic, CPR protocol.
These are general warnings for Atropine across species; consult the dog dosing table above for species-specific guidance. Tachycardia, ileus, urinary retention. Increases myocardial oxygen demand. Rabbits have high atropinase activity — may need higher/more frequent doses or use glycopyrrolate instead.
Why a species-specific page? Atropine 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.
| 0.2–0.5 | IV | BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, 10th ed — Part A (Canine and Feline)p.38 | dose 0.2-0.5 mg/kg (1⁄4 dose i.v., 3⁄4 i.m., s.c.) to effect; repeat as necessary; or 0.1-0.2 mg/kg (% |
| 0.04 | IV | BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, 10th ed — Part A (Canine and Feline)p.38 | 0.04 mg/kg i.v. with edrophonium (0.5-1.0 mg/kg). Azathioprine (Azathioprine*, Imura |
| 0.5–1 | IM | BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, 10th ed — Part A (Canine and Feline)p.38 | 0.04 mg/kg i.v. with edrophonium (0.5-1.0 mg/kg). Azathioprine (Azathioprine*, Imuran*) POM |
| 0.02–0.04 | IV | Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.62 | • 0.02-0.04 mg/kg q6-8h IV, IM, or • 0.02-0.04 mg/kg q6-8h IV, IM, or SQ. |
| 0.01 | — | Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.62 | from 0.01 mg/kg to 0.06 mg/kg, |
| 0.06 | — | Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.62 | from 0.01 mg/kg to 0.06 mg/kg, |
| 0.005–0.01 | — | Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.62 | • Sinus bradycardia: 0.005-0.01 mg/kg, |
| 0.04 | — | Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.62 | suscitation (CPR) up to 0.04 mg/kg. |
| 0.2–0.5 | — | Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.62 | toxicosis: 0.2-0.5 mg/kg as needed, toxicosis: 0.2-0.5 mg/kg as needed, |
Figures are transcribed from the cited page or table of each held edition and are shown for reference only. They are not dose recommendations, they do not feed the calculator, and none has been reviewed by a veterinarian.