Dog · Canis lupus familiaris · typical adult weight 2.00–80.00 kg
Buprenorphine is dosed at 0.01–0.02 mg/kg IM q6-8h in dogs, per VETERGESIC Multidose 0.3 Mg/ML Solution for Injection for Dogs, Cats, and Horses [UK Datasheet]. Amersham HP7 9FB, UK: Ceva Animal Health Ltd; 2018.; VETERGESIC 0.3 Mg/ML Solution for Injection for Dogs and Cats [UK Datasheet]. Ceva Animal Health Ltd; 2018. — Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.179 (2026-08-01).. Buprenorphine is used in dogs for Moderate pain, Moderate pain, post-operative analgesia, Intraoperative CRI analgesia, Post-operative analgesia. Routes documented in dogs: IM, IV, SC. A typical adult dog weighs 2.00–80.00 kg. ExoticRx lists 4 cited dose rules for Buprenorphine in dogs, drawn from published veterinary references. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
US trade names: Simbadol, Buprenex
| Route | Dose | Frequency | Duration | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IM | 0.01–0.02 mg/kg | q6-8h | As needed | Moderate pain | Strong | VETERGESIC Multidose 0.3 Mg/ML Solution for Injection for Dogs, Cats, and Horses [UK Datasheet]. Amersham HP7 9FB, UK: Ceva Animal Health Ltd; 2018.; VETERGESIC 0.3 Mg/ML Solution for Injection for Dogs and Cats [UK Datasheet]. Ceva Animal Health Ltd; 2018. — Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.179 (2026-08-01). |
| IV | 0.01–0.02 mg/kg | q6-8h | As needed post-operatively | Moderate pain, post-operative analgesia | Strong | VETERGESIC Multidose 0.3 Mg/ML Solution for Injection for Dogs, Cats, and Horses [UK Datasheet]. Amersham HP7 9FB, UK: Ceva Animal Health Ltd; 2018.; VETERGESIC 0.3 Mg/ML Solution for Injection for Dogs and Cats [UK Datasheet]. Ceva Animal Health Ltd; 2018. — Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.179 (2026-08-01). |
| IV | 0.002–0.004 mg/kg | per hour (CRI); IV load 0.005-0.01 mg/kg first | During surgery | Intraoperative CRI analgesia | Moderate | Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed (2023), PDF p.179 (printed p.152), DOGS - Analgesia b) Constant rate infusion (CRI) |
| SC | 0.01–0.02 mg/kg | q6-8h | As needed | Post-operative analgesia | Strong | Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 9th Ed |
One of the cited rules is a continuous-rate-infusion regimen: IV 0.002–0.004 mg/kg per hour (CRI); IV load 0.005-0.01 mg/kg first. CRI regimens are delivered as a continuous infusion rather than discrete doses — verify the rate against the cited source before use.
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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.
Partial agonist at mu-opioid receptors with high receptor affinity. Provides analgesia with a ceiling effect on respiratory depression.
OTM (oral transmucosal) absorption effective in cats. Ceiling effect limits maximum analgesia. Difficult to reverse with naloxone due to high receptor affinity.
Species-specific contraindications and adverse-reaction reports for dogs may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.
Buprenorphine dose ranges in dogs, with cited source references: IM 0.01–0.02 mg/kg q6-8h; IV 0.01–0.02 mg/kg q6-8h; IV 0.002–0.004 mg/kg per hour (CRI); IV load 0.005-0.01 mg/kg first; SC 0.01–0.02 mg/kg q6-8h. Reference ranges from cited sources — verify against current literature before clinical use.
Documented routes for Buprenorphine in dogs: IM, IV, SC.
Cited course lengths for Buprenorphine in dogs include: As needed; As needed post-operatively; During surgery. Duration depends on the indication — match it to the specific dose rule in the table above.
Buprenorphine is indicated in dogs for: Moderate pain, Moderate pain, post-operative analgesia, Intraoperative CRI analgesia, Post-operative analgesia.
These are general warnings for Buprenorphine across species; consult the dog dosing table above for species-specific guidance. OTM (oral transmucosal) absorption effective in cats. Ceiling effect limits maximum analgesia. Difficult to reverse with naloxone due to high receptor affinity.
Why a species-specific page? Buprenorphine 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.