ExoticRx · exoticrx.com/drugs/budesonide-oral
US brand names:Entocort EC, Ortikos
Budesonide Oral is dosed at 1–3 mg/dog by weight band (NOT mg/kg) PO q24h in dogs, per Dye TL, Diehl KJ, Wheeler SL, Westfall DS. Randomized, Controlled Trial of Budesonide and Prednisone for the Treatment of Idiopathic Inflammatory Bowel Disease in Dogs. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine. 2013;27(6):1385-1391. doi:10.1111/jvim.12195; Tumulty JW, Broussard JD, Steiner JM, Peterson ME, Williams DA. Clinical effects of short-term oral budesonide on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis in dogs with inflammatory bowel disease. JAAHA. 2004;40(2):120-123. doi:10.5326/0400120 — Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.170 (2026-08-01). — Plumb's 10th ed (held) printed p.142, Budesonide monograph spanning p.142-143; page located 2026-08-05 from the book's own running heads, verified to name the drug in its body text. — SOURCE EDITION: Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook — ISBN 9781394172207, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9781394172207; Zoo Animal and Wildlife Immobilization and Anesthesia — ISBN 9780813811833, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780813811833 — SOURCE ROWS: Papich, Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, corpus p.113 — "In dogs, intact 3-mg capsules, once per day, have been administered ... Full range of doses for […]" And BSAVA Small Animal Formulary Part A, corpus p.67 — "Dogs: Intestinal diseases: dose based on body size ranging from 1 mg/day p.o. q24h for small dogs […]" Neither source prints a mg/kg figure for dogs. — RETRIEVED FINDING - CHANGE REQUIRED (retrieved 2026-08-19): body weight 3 to 7 kg: 1 mg (must be compounded), 7.1 to 15 kg: 2 mg (must be compounded), 15.1 to 30 kg: 3 mg (commercially available), greater than 30 kg: 5 mg (must be compounded) PO once daily — Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook 10th ed, printed p.143 (corpus plumb 170); identical fourth band in Papich, Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs 4th ed, printed p.85 (corpus papich 113): "15-30 kg, 3 mg every 24 hours; [>] 30 kg, 5 mg every 24 hours.". Verify against current literature before clinical use.
Potent glucocorticoid with high first-pass hepatic metabolism, providing topical anti-inflammatory effect on GI mucosa with reduced systemic bioavailability.
Fewer systemic corticosteroid effects than prednisone but not zero. Used for IBD in dogs and cats. Monitor for adrenal suppression with prolonged use.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dog (Domestic) | PO | 1–3 mg/dog by weight band (NOT mg/kg) | q24h | Strong | Dye TL, Diehl KJ, Wheeler SL, Westfall DS. Randomized, Controlled Trial of Budesonide and Prednisone for the Treatment of Idiopathic Inflammatory Bowel Disease in Dogs. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine. 2013;27(6):1385-1391. doi:10.1111/jvim.12195; Tumulty JW, Broussard JD, Steiner JM, Peterson ME, Williams DA. Clinical effects of short-term oral budesonide on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis in dogs with inflammatory bowel disease. JAAHA. 2004;40(2):120-123. doi:10.5326/0400120 — Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.170 (2026-08-01). — Plumb's 10th ed (held) printed p.142, Budesonide monograph spanning p.142-143; page located 2026-08-05 from the book's own running heads, verified to name the drug in its body text. — SOURCE EDITION: Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook — ISBN 9781394172207, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9781394172207; Zoo Animal and Wildlife Immobilization and Anesthesia — ISBN 9780813811833, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780813811833 — SOURCE ROWS: Papich, Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, corpus p.113 — "In dogs, intact 3-mg capsules, once per day, have been administered ... Full range of doses for […]" And BSAVA Small Animal Formulary Part A, corpus p.67 — "Dogs: Intestinal diseases: dose based on body size ranging from 1 mg/day p.o. q24h for small dogs […]" Neither source prints a mg/kg figure for dogs. — RETRIEVED FINDING - CHANGE REQUIRED (retrieved 2026-08-19): body weight 3 to 7 kg: 1 mg (must be compounded), 7.1 to 15 kg: 2 mg (must be compounded), 15.1 to 30 kg: 3 mg (commercially available), greater than 30 kg: 5 mg (must be compounded) PO once daily — Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook 10th ed, printed p.143 (corpus plumb 170); identical fourth band in Papich, Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs 4th ed, printed p.85 (corpus papich 113): "15-30 kg, 3 mg every 24 hours; [>] 30 kg, 5 mg every 24 hours." |
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View PlansSource citations and evidence levels available on the live page. Reference only — verify against current literature before clinical use.
| Cat (Domestic) | PO | 0.5–1 mg per cat | q24h | Moderate | Trepanier L. Idiopathic inflammatory bowel disease in cats: Rational treatment selection. J Feline Med Surg. 2009;11(1):32-39. doi:10.1016/j.jfms.2008.11.011; Willard M. Chronic Small Bowel Diarrhea - Part II. Paper presented at: Southwest Veterinary Symposium: SWVS 2016. — Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.170 (2026-08-01). — Plumb's 10th ed (held) printed p.142, Budesonide monograph spanning p.142-143; page located 2026-08-05 from the book's own running heads, verified to name the drug in its body text. — SOURCE EDITION: Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook — ISBN 9781394172207, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9781394172207; Zoo Animal and Wildlife Immobilization and Anesthesia — ISBN 9780813811833, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780813811833 |