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).. 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). |
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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.
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.