Dog · Canis lupus familiaris · typical adult weight 2.00–80.00 kg
Azathioprine is dosed at 2 mg/kg PO q24h initially, then q48h in dogs, per Chauvet AE. Neuromuscular Disorders. Paper presented at: Wisconsin Veterinary Medical Association; 2017; Madison, WI. — Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.146 (2026-08-01). — Plumb's 10th ed (held) printed p.119, Azathioprine monograph spanning p.118-119; page located 2026-08-05 from the book's own running heads, and carries this exact dose under the matching species heading. — SOURCE EDITION: Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook — ISBN 9781394172207, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9781394172207. Azathioprine is used in dogs for IMHA, immune-mediated skin diseases, IBD. Routes documented in dogs: PO. A typical adult dog weighs 2.00–80.00 kg. ExoticRx lists 1 cited dose rule for Azathioprine in dogs, drawn from published veterinary references. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
US trade names: Imuran
| Route | Dose | Frequency | Duration | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PO | 2 mg/kg | q24h initially, then q48h | Long-term | IMHA, immune-mediated skin diseases, IBD | Strong | Chauvet AE. Neuromuscular Disorders. Paper presented at: Wisconsin Veterinary Medical Association; 2017; Madison, WI. — Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.146 (2026-08-01). — Plumb's 10th ed (held) printed p.119, Azathioprine monograph spanning p.118-119; page located 2026-08-05 from the book's own running heads, and carries this exact dose under the matching species heading. — SOURCE EDITION: Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook — ISBN 9781394172207, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9781394172207 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | PO | BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, 10th ed — Part A (Canine and Feline)p.55 | 2 mg/kg p.o. q24h for a maximum of 2-3 weeks, then 0.5-2 mg/kg p.o. q48h |
| 0.5–2 | PO | BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, 10th ed — Part A (Canine and Feline)p.55 | 2 mg/kg p.o. q24h for a maximum of 2-3 weeks, then 0.5-2 mg/kg p.o. q48h |
| 2 | PO | Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.94 | • 2 mg/kg q24h PO initially, then 0.5-1 mg/kg q48h. In dogs, doses as high as |
| 0.5–1 |
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Prodrug converted to 6-mercaptopurine, which inhibits purine synthesis. Suppresses T-cell and B-cell proliferation.
TOXIC to cats (severe bone marrow suppression — use only if no alternatives, at very low dose every 48-72h). Monitor CBC regularly. Hepatotoxicity. Pancreatitis. Drug interaction with allopurinol (reduce dose 75%).
Species-specific contraindications and adverse-reaction reports for dogs may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.
Azathioprine dose range in dogs, with cited source references: PO 2 mg/kg q24h initially, then q48h. Reference ranges from cited sources — verify against current literature before clinical use.
Documented routes for Azathioprine in dogs: PO.
Cited course lengths for Azathioprine in dogs include: Long-term. Duration depends on the indication — match it to the specific dose rule in the table above.
Azathioprine is indicated in dogs for: IMHA, immune-mediated skin diseases, IBD.
These are general warnings for Azathioprine across species; consult the dog dosing table above for species-specific guidance. TOXIC to cats (severe bone marrow suppression — use only if no alternatives, at very low dose every 48-72h). Monitor CBC regularly. Hepatotoxicity. Pancreatitis. Drug interaction with allopurinol (reduce dose 75%).
Why a species-specific page? Azathioprine 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.
| PO |
| Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.94 |
| • 2 mg/kg q24h PO initially, then 0.5-1 mg/kg q48h. In dogs, doses as high as |
| 1.5 | PO | Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.94 | 1.5 mg/kg q48h PO have been used with prednisolone. |
| 0.3 | PO | Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.94 | 0.3 mg/kg q24h PO and adjust dose to q48h after careful monitoring. Tablet size |
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.